calorific
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of calorific
1675–85; < Late Latin calōrificus causing warmth, warming, equivalent to calōri- (stem of calor heat) + -ficus -fic
Explanation
Calorific is a good word for describing something that generates heat. A motorcycle race can be calorific in at least two ways: The engines get burning hot, and watching the race can make you burn with excitement. In today's diet-obsessed world, you'd be forgiven for thinking that calorific means "filled with calories." In fact, when you do something calorific you don't load up on calories; you get rid of them. Say you drink a bottle of soda and then jump on the treadmill. All those calories you just poured down your throat? You're burning them up, turning them into heat. Running is a calorific activity. And a sweaty one.
Vocabulary lists containing calorific
Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 2
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
2014 Vocabulary Video Contest (A-L)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Vocab Video Contest (2016) - List 1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Around 14,000 of the prisoners died after liberation, their digestive systems unable to cope with the high calorific, rich, sustenance offered by well-meaning cooks and medics.
From BBC ● Apr. 26, 2025
“From my point of view, however, meat was and is not necessarily nutritionally relevant. Proteins alone do not have a particularly high calorific value,” Kindler adds.
From Scientific American ● Oct. 25, 2023
Since butter is very calorific and fat-rich, some people may want to look at using butter alternatives for the base of their butter board.
From Salon ● Oct. 27, 2022
Thankfully for the fans in attendance who purchased the calorific concoction, they walked away with a sweet playoff victory in addition to their heartburn.
From Washington Times ● May 8, 2022
This is also true of the calorific value.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
