Oort Cloud

/ˈɔːrt klaʊd/

proper noun

The Solar System's Oort cloud, extending from 50,000 to 100,000 astronomical units (approximately 1 light year) from the sun; supposedly the source of most comets around the Solar System.

Similar
Öpik-Oort Cloud
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Meanings

Oort Cloud1

proper nounthe Oort Cloud

alternative Oort cloud

  1. astronomyThe Solar System's Oort cloud, extending from 50,000 to 100,000 astronomical units (approximately 1 light year) from the sun; supposedly the source of most comets around the Solar System.

    Synonyms: Öpik-Oort Cloud

Oort cloud2

proper nounthe Oort cloud
  1. Alternative letter-case form of Oort Cloud (“the Solar System's Oort cloud”).
nounOort cloud (plural Oort clouds)

plural Oort clouds

  1. astronomyA roughly spherical region of space composed of comet-like bodies and other minor planets and asteroids that orbit distantly in a planetary system.

Synonyms & antonyms

proper nounThe Solar System's Oort cloud, extending from 50,000 to 100,000 astronomical units (approximately 1 light year) from the sun; supposedly the source of most comets around the Solar System.

Similar
Öpik-Oort Cloud
Also see
öpik-oort cloud

Origin

Oort Cloud · proper noun

Named after the Dutch astronomer Jan Hendrik Oort, who revived the Estonian astronomer Ernst Öpik’s idea from 1932 of a reservoir of long-period comets in the form of an orbiting cloud at the outermost edge of the Solar System in 1950 to resolve a paradox about the origin of comets.

Full word history & related roots →

Oort cloud · proper noun, noun

A cloud-like structure, named after Dutch astronomer Jan Oort, who proposed it.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Afrikaans Oortwolk
  • Oortwolkcloud of comets in the Solar System
Arabic سَحَابَة أُورْط
  • سَحَابَة أُورْط (saḥābat ʔūrṭ)cloud of comets in the Solar System
Chinese Mandarin 奧爾特雲 /奥尔特云
  • 奧爾特雲 /奥尔特云 (Ào'ěrtè yún)cloud of comets in the Solar System
Dutch Oortwolk
  • Oortwolkcloud of comets in the Solar System
Finnish Oortin pilvi
  • Oortin pilvicloud of comets in the Solar System
French nuage de Oort
  • nuage de Oortcloud of comets in the Solar System
German Oortsche Wolke
  • Oortsche Wolkecloud of comets in the Solar System
Hungarian Oort-felhő
  • Oort-felhőcloud of comets in the Solar System
Italian nube di Oort
  • nube di Oortcloud of comets in the Solar System
Japanese オールトの雲
  • オールトの雲 (Ōruto-no kumo)cloud of comets in the Solar System
Korean 오르트 구름
  • 오르트 구름 (Oreuteu gureum)cloud of comets in the Solar System
Persian ابر اورت
  • ابر اورت (abr-e urt)cloud of comets in the Solar System
Polish Obłok Oorta
  • Obłok Oortacloud of comets in the Solar System
Portuguese nuvem de Oort
  • nuvem de Oortcloud of comets in the Solar System
Russian о́блако О́орта
  • о́блако О́орта (óblako Óorta)cloud of comets in the Solar System
Spanish nube de Oort
  • nube de Oortcloud of comets in the Solar System
Swedish Oorts kometmoln
  • Oorts kometmolncloud of comets in the Solar System
Turkish Oort Bulutu
  • Oort Bulutucloud of comets in the Solar System
Cite this entry
APA

Oort Cloud. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Oort%20Cloud

MLA

“Oort Cloud.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Oort%20Cloud. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Oort Cloud,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Oort%20Cloud.

Source: Oort Cloud on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.