calorie

Sometimes cal·o·ry

[kal-uh-ree]

noun

plural

calories 

1. Thermodynamics.

   1. Also called gram calorie, small calorie. an amount of heat exactly equal to 4.1840 joules. cal

   2. (usually initial capital letter),  kilocalorie. Cal

2. Physiology.

   1. a unit equal to the kilocalorie, used to express the heat output of an organism and the fuel or energy value of food.

   2. a quantity of food capable of producing such an amount of energy.

Calorie

¹

/ ˈkælərɪ /

noun

1. Cal. Also called: kilogram calorie.  kilocalorie.  large calorie. a unit of heat, equal to one thousand calories, often used to express the heat output of an organism or the energy value of food

2. the amount of a specific food capable of producing one thousand calories of energy

calorie

²

/ ˈkælərɪ /

noun

1. Also called: gram calorie.  small calorie.  cal. a unit of heat, equal to 4.1868 joules ( International Table calorie ): formerly defined as the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1°C under standard conditions. It has now largely been replaced by the joule for scientific purposes Compare Calorie

calorie

1. A unit of energy equal to the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius. One calorie is equivalent to 4.1868 joules.

2. Also called small calorie

3. Calorie A unit of heat equal to the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1,000 grams of water by one degree Celsius. This unit is used as a measure of the energy released by food as it is digested by the human body.

4. Also called kilocalorie large calorie

Calorie

1. The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a kilogram of water by one degree Celsius. A calorie (with a lower-case c) is a measurement of the heat needed to raise the temperature of a gram of water, rather than a kilogram.

Word History and Origins

Origin of calorie¹

First recorded in 1800–10; from French, equivalent to calor- (from Latin calor “heat”) + -ie noun suffix; -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of calorie¹

C19: from French, from Latin calor heat

Example Sentences

Mr James took daily measurements for researchers and they studied his calorie intake, energy expenditure and body composition to monitor the impact the high-endurance challenge had on his body.

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This may help explain why the same meal can provide different calorie counts for different individuals once it reaches the colon.

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Aspinall usually eats porridge for breakfast, alongside a couple of protein shakes which include peanut butter and blueberries, which can top 1,000 calories.

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Earlier studies have shown that specific types of diets, including calorie restriction, can enhance the function of intestinal stem cells.

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The current dietary guidelines, which are updated every five years, recommend people limit their saturated fat intake to less than 10% of daily calories.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal