calorie

noun

cal·​o·​rie ˈka-lə-rē 

ˈkal-rē

variants or less commonly calory

plural calories

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 calorie

2

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

Examples of calorie in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Low bodyweight: For women in competitive sports, wracking up enough calories to balance out rigorous training can be tough, Dr. Templeton says. —Alisa Hrustic, SELF, 24 June 2025

Many are nutrient-dense while also falling under 100 calories per serving. —Brianna Tobritzhofer, Health, 23 June 2025

Scientists estimated that for every 1.8 degree F increase in temperature above pre-industrial levels, production will decline by 120 calories per person per day, the equivalent of 4.4% of current daily consumption. —Doyle Rice, USA Today, 21 June 2025

But this label in fact lists no ingredients — just information about calories and percentages of fat, sodium or sugar per serving. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 20 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing calorie

• gram calorie
• large calorie
• small calorie

Rhymes for calorie

• galerie
• gallery
• mallory
• salary

Kids Definition

calorie

noun

cal·​o·​rie

variants also calory

ˈkal-(ə-)rē 

plural calories

1

: a unit of heat:

a

: the heat energy required to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree Celsius and equal to about 4.19 joules

called also small calorie

b

: the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water one degree Celsius and equal to 1000 small calories

—used especially to indicate the value of foods in the production of heat and energy

called also large calorie, kilocalorie

2

: an amount of food having an energy-producing value of one large calorie

Etymology

from French calorie "a unit of heat," from Latin calor "heat," from calēre "to be hot" — related to cauldron, nonchalant

Medical Definition

calorie

noun

cal·​o·​rie

variants also calory

ˈkal-(ə-)rē 

plural calories

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 that is equal to 1000 gram calories or 3.968 Btu

—abbreviation Cal

called also kilocalorie, kilogram calorie, large calorie

2

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