calorie

American  

[kal-uh-ree] / ˈkæl ə ri /

Sometimes calory

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.

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Calorie ¹ British  

/ 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

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calorie ² British  

/ 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 It has now largely been replaced by the joule for scientific purposes Compare Calorie

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calorie Scientific  

/ kăl′ə-rē /

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

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Calorie Cultural  

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.

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Etymology

Origin of calorie

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

Example Sentences

The analysts cite several challenges for CPG companies that could be structural, like a drag on volume from slower population growth and a demand shock as the rise of GLP-1 drugs reduces calorie intake.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

It has been selling zero calorie drinks, perfect for consumers’ tastes today, and can use its growing cash pile to repurchase shares.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

The researchers also wanted to know where the extra calorie burning occurred.

From Science Daily • Feb. 27, 2026

Participants followed a calorie restricted plan made up almost entirely of oatmeal for 48 hours.

From Science Daily • Feb. 25, 2026

Farming societies have, until very recently, relied for the great bulk of their calorie intake on a small variety of domesticated plants.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari