calorie
noun
- the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree celsius; gram calorie; small calorie
- 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
- a unit equal to the large calorie, used for measuring the energy produced by food when oxidized in the body
- an amount of food able to produce one large calorie of energy
See calorie in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(kălˈə-rē)
noun- Abbr. cal Any of several approximately equal units of heat, each measured as the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1°C from a standard initial temperature, especially from 3.98°C, 14.5°C, or 19.5°C, at 1 atmosphere pressure. Also called gram calorie, small calorie.
- Abbr. cal The unit of heat equal to 1/100 the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water from 0 to 100°C at 1 atmosphere pressure. Also called mean calorie.
a. Abbr. Cal The unit of heat equal to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1°C at 1 atmosphere pressure. Also called kilocalorie, kilogram calorie, large calorie.
b. A unit of energy-producing potential equal to this amount of heat that is contained in food and released upon oxidation by the body. Also called nutritionist's calorie.
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