calorie

noun

cal·​o·​rie ˈka-lə-rē How to pronounce calorie (audio)
ˈkal-rē
variants or less commonly calory
plural calories
1
a
: the amount of heat required at a pressure of one atmosphere to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree Celsius that is equal to about 4.19 joules
abbreviation cal

called also gram calorie, small calorie

b
: the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water one degree Celsius : 1000 gram calories or 3.968 Btu
abbreviation Cal

called also large calorie

2
a
: a unit equivalent to the large calorie expressing heat-producing or energy-producing value in food when oxidized in the body
b
: an amount of food having an energy-producing value of one large calorie

Examples of calorie in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web While those who struggle with excess weight are often told to eat fewer calories and exercise daily, millions of people are still categorized as obese. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024 Manitoba Harvest protein powder contains 14 grams of protein per serving for 130 calories. April Benshosan, Glamour, 13 Mar. 2024 By comparison, walking covers all the bases, including burning calories, promoting circulation, improving cardiovascular fitness, and more. Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 7 Mar. 2024 Three Biden administration officials said the planes dropped the military Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) — shelf-stable meals that contain a day’s worth of calories in each sealed package — in locations that were thought would provide civilians with the greatest level of safety to access aid. Tara Copp, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2024 High-tech shoes could come with sensors to track health metrics like steps and calories, invaluable for active professionals such as musicians who spend long hours on their feet. Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2024 There are a couple of low-energy ways in Dublin to burn off your calories. John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2024 Consuming adequate calories, carbohydrates, protein, and fat on a daily basis helps effectively fuel both your brain and muscles inside and outside of the gym. Rebecca Jaspan, Mph, Health, 5 Mar. 2024 Get out and take a refreshing walk to work off those holiday calories. Marla Jo Fisher, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'calorie.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French calorie, from Latin calor heat, from calēre to be warm — more at lee

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of calorie was in 1866

Dictionary Entries Near calorie

Cite this Entry

“Calorie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calorie. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

calorie

noun
cal·​o·​rie
variants also calory
plural calories
1
: a unit of heat:
a
: the heat energy required to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree Celsius and equal to about 4.19 joules

called also small calorie

b
: the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water one degree Celsius and equal to 1000 small calories
used especially to indicate the value of foods in the production of heat and energy

called also large calorie, kilocalorie

2
: an amount of food having an energy-producing value of one large calorie
Etymology

from French calorie "a unit of heat," from Latin calor "heat," from calēre "to be hot" — related to cauldron, nonchalant

Medical Definition

calorie

noun
cal·​o·​rie
variants also calory
plural calories
1
a
: the amount of heat required at a pressure of one atmosphere to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree Celsius that is equal to about 4.19 joules
abbreviation cal

called also gram calorie, small calorie

b
: the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water one degree Celsius that is equal to 1000 gram calories or 3.968 Btu
abbreviation Cal

called also kilocalorie, kilogram calorie, large calorie

2
a
: a unit equivalent to the large calorie expressing heat-producing or energy-producing value in food when oxidized in the body
b
: an amount of food having an energy-producing value of one large calorie

More from Merriam-Webster on calorie

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