kilo

¹

[ kee-loh, kil-oh ]

noun

, plural ki·los.

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

kilo-

²

1. 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 ).

kilo

¹

/ ˈkiːləʊ /

noun

1. communications a code word for the letter k

kilo-

²

prefix

1. denoting 10³ (1000) k

   kilometre

2. (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

kilo

³

/ ˈkiːləʊ /

noun

1. short for kilogram kilometre

kilo–

1. A prefix that means:
2. One thousand, as in kilowatt, one thousand watts.
3. 2 ¹⁰ (that is, 1,024), which is the power of 2 closest to 1,000, as in kilobyte.

Word History and Origins

Origin of kilo¹

First recorded in 1865–70; shortened form

Origin of kilo²

< French, representing Greek chī́lioi a thousand

Word History and Origins

Origin of kilo¹

from French, from Greek khilioi thousand

Example Sentences

The company says it can produce a kilo of hydrogen using 20% less electricity than conventional methods.

From BBC

Prosecutor Alex Prentice KC earlier told the court that the messages on the encrypted phone network Encrochat showed Stevenson discussing plans to import kilo blocks of cocaine with Cross, as well as the use of Bilsland provide “an appearance of legitimacy”.

From BBC

Tan Xianglong, 37, planted what he thought was more than half a kilo of cannabis between the rear passenger seats of his wife's car, assuming it was enough to warrant the death penalty for drug trafficking.

From BBC

The company says it can produce a kilo of hydrogen using 20% less electricity than conventional methods.

From BBC

“Once I got four kilos of dried dates and sold a kilo for 8 shekels,” he said, referring to the Israeli currency amounting to roughly $2.

From New York Times

Words That Use kilo-

What does kilo- mean?

Kilo– is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “thousand.” It is often used in units of measure.

Kilo– comes from Greek chī́lioi, meaning “a thousand.” The Latin translation of chī́lioi is mille, “a thousand,” which is the source of English terms such as millennium and millipede. To learn more, check out our entries for both words.

Examples of kilo-

A unit of measure that features the form kilo– is kilowatt, “a unit of power, equal to 1000 watts.”

The kilo– part of the word means “a thousand,” as we already know. The –watt part of the word refers to the standard unit of power. Kilowatt literally means “a thousand watts.”

What are some words that use the combining form kilo-?

• kilobar
• kilobyte
• kilocurie
• kilogram (using the equivalent form of kilo– in French)
• kilometer (using the equivalent form of kilo– in French)
• kiloton

What are some other forms that kilo– may be commonly confused with?

• klepto-
• kinesi-

Break it down!

A ton is a unit of measure for weight. With this in mind, what does kiloton literally mean?