comma
UK: ˈkɒmə | US: ˈkɑːmə
n. a punctuation mark (,) indicating a pause between parts of a sentence or separating items in a list
n. (music) a minute interval in musical tuning
The word "comma" originates from Greek komma (κόμμα), meaning "a clause" or "something cut off," derived from koptein (κόπτω, "to cut"). The morpheme com- (from Greek kom-) implies "together," while -ma denotes the result of cutting. This reflects the comma's function as a marker that "cuts" or separates sentence elements. The term entered Latin as comma and later passed into English via Old French in the 16th century, retaining its grammatical and musical meanings.
Use a comma to separate items in a list, such as apples, oranges, and bananas.
The sentence was hard to read because it lacked a comma.
In music theory, a comma describes the slight difference between two enharmonic notes.
She paused at the comma, taking a breath before continuing.
The editor added a comma to clarify the sentence’s meaning.