Main Entry:

cal·o·rie

Variant(s):

also cal·o·ry \ˈka-lə-rē, ˈkal-rē\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural cal·o·ries

Etymology:

French calorie, from Latin calor heat, from calēre to be warm — more at lee

Date:

1866

1 a: the amount of heat required at a pressure of one atmosphere to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree Celsius that is equal to about 4.19 joules —abbreviation cal —called also gram calorie small calorie b: the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water one degree Celsius : 1000 gram calories or 3.968 Btu —abbreviation Cal —called also large calorie2 a: a unit equivalent to the large calorie expressing heat-producing or energy-producing value in food when oxidized in the body b: an amount of food having an energy-producing value of one large calorie