calorie Hear it!

calorie definition

calo·rie (kal′ə rē)

noun

  1. the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree celsius; gram calorie; small calorie
  2. the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water one degree celsius; great calorie; kilocalorie; 1,000 calories; large calorie
    1. a unit equal to the large calorie, used for measuring the energy produced by food when oxidized in the body
    2. an amount of food able to produce one large calorie of energy

Etymology: Fr < L calor, heat; akin to calere, to be warm < IE base *kel-, warm > OE hlēowe, warm

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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