Dictionary.com

kilo

[ kee-loh, kil-oh ]
/ ˈki loʊ, ˈkɪl oʊ /

noun, plural ki·los.

kilogram.
kilometer.
(a word used in communications to represent the letter K.)

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Origin of kilo

First recorded in 1865–70; shortened form

Words nearby kilo

kiln, kiln-dried, kiln-dry, Kilner jar, kiln run brick, kilo, kilobar, kilobit, kilobyte, kilocalorie, kilocurie

Definition for kilo (2 of 2)

kilo-

a Greek combining form meaning “thousand,” introduced from French in the nomenclature of the metric system (kiloliter); on this model, used in the formation of compound words in other scientific measurements (kilowatt).

Origin of kilo-

<French, representing Greek chī́lioi a thousand
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for kilo

British Dictionary definitions for kilo (1 of 3)

kilo1
/ (ˈkiːləʊ) /

noun plural kilos

short for kilogram, kilometre

British Dictionary definitions for kilo (2 of 3)

kilo2
/ (ˈkiːləʊ) /

noun

communications a code word for the letter k

British Dictionary definitions for kilo (3 of 3)

kilo-

prefix

denoting 10³ (1000)kilometre Symbol: k
(in computer technology) denoting 2 10 (1024): kilobyte: in computer usage, kilo- is restricted to sizes of storage (e.g. kilobit) when it means 1024; in other computer contexts it retains its usual meaning of 1000

Word Origin for kilo-

from French, from Greek khilioi thousand
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for kilo

kilo-

pref.

One thousand (103):kilogram.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for kilo

kilo-

A prefix that means:
One thousand, as in kilowatt, one thousand watts.
210 (that is, 1,024), which is the power of 2 closest to 1,000, as in kilobyte.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.