kilogram

American  

[kil-uh-gram] / ˈkɪl əˌgræm /

especially British, kilogramme

noun

1. a unit of mass equal to 1,000 grams: the basic unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI). Up until 2019 the kilogram was defined as equal to the mass of an international prototype, a platinum-iridium cylinder kept in Sèvres, France. The kilogram has since been redefined in terms of universal physical constants, including the speed of light and Planck's constant. kg

2. a unit of force and weight, equal to the force that produces an acceleration of 9.80665 meters per second per second when acting on a mass of one kilogram. kg

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kilogram British  

/ ˈkɪləʊˌɡræm /

noun

1. one thousand grams

2. the basic SI unit of mass, equal to the mass of the international prototype held by the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures. One kilogram is equivalent to 2.204 62 pounds

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kilogram Scientific  

/ kĭl′ə-grăm′ /

1. The basic unit of mass in the metric system, equal to 1,000 grams (2.2 pounds).

2. See Table at measurement

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kilogram Cultural  

1. A unit of mass in the metric system, equal to one thousand grams. The weight of a one-kilogram mass is slightly over two pounds.

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Etymology

Origin of kilogram

From the French word kilogramme, dating back to 1790–1800. See kilo-, -gram ²

Example Sentences

For small packages lighter than one kilogram, or roughly 2.2 pounds, family warehouses typically charge as low as 70 cents a package, below commercial warehouses fees.

From The Wall Street Journal

It cost tens of thousands of dollars to put a kilogram of weight into orbit on the Space Shuttle.

From Barron's

In February, the company halted cheese production and it was revealed in September the dairy was losing £2.37 per kilogram of cheese produced.

From BBC

To buy a kilogram of tomatoes, a Venezuelan needs the equivalent of one US dollar.

From Barron's

"Just 15 to 20 years ago, sending a kilogram into space cost $60,000," Bonnet told AFP.

From Barron's