kilogram

noun

ki·lo·gram | \ ˈkē-lə-ˌgram

Definition of kilogram

1 : the base unit of mass in the International System of Units that is equal to the mass of a prototype agreed upon by international convention and that is nearly equal to the mass of 1000 cubic centimeters of water at the temperature of its maximum density — see Metric System Table

2 : a unit of force or weight equal to the weight of a kilogram mass under a gravitational attraction equal to that of the earth

Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about kilogram

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Did You Know?

The original concept of the kilogram, as the mass of a cubic decimeter of water (a bit more than a quart), was adopted as the base unit of mass by the new revolutionary government of France in 1793. In 1875, in the Treaty of the Meter, 17 countries, including the U.S., adopted the French kilogram as an international standard. In 1889 a new international standard for the kilogram, a metal bar made of platinum iridium, was agreed to; President Benjamin Harrison officially received the 1-kilogram cylinder for the U.S. in 1890. But no one uses that bar very often; for all practical purposes, a kilogram equals 2.2 pounds.

Examples of kilogram in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lovot even weighs roughly the same as a human toddler, around 6.6 pounds or three kilograms, and channels the heat created by its processing chip to its skin. — James Vincent, The Verge, "Japan’s latest home robot isn’t useful — it’s designed to be loved," 20 Dec. 2018 In recent years, as his health waned, the man famous for adding a half- pound of butter, or 250 grams, to roughly every two pounds, or kilogram, of potatoes pursued a less-rich diet. — Josh Jacobs, WSJ, "Chef Joël Robuchon Found Exacting Ways to Prepare Simple French Food," 10 Aug. 2018 The package was suspected to contain approximately 509 grams, about half a kilogram, of MDMA also known as Molly, police said. — Sarah Brookbank, Cincinnati.com, "Miami University student arrested after delivery of half kilo of MDMA," 30 Mar. 2018 After cleaning and melting gold from Tchibarakaten into small bars and bricks, traders sell the precious metal, often kilograms at a time, to buyers from Nigeria, Ghana and Mali, who then carry it to Dubai. — Joe Parkinson, WSJ, "Thousands Flock to Remote, Lawless Sahara in Search of Gold," 16 Oct. 2018 Ramos admitted that at least 450 kilograms of cocaine were distributed using Phantom Secure devices. — Cyrus Farivar, Ars Technica, "CEO who sold phones with “totally unbreakable encryption” takes plea deal," 3 Oct. 2018 The group of traffickers moved more than 30 kilograms of drugs through the Houston, Beaumont and Lufkin areas, according to the news release. — Jose R. Gonzalez, Houston Chronicle, "Channelview woman sentenced for drug trafficking," 28 Mar. 2018 What has him and other farmers in the region desperate is a huge drop in the prices that local drug gangs pay for a kilogram of opium paste. — Mark Stevenson, Fox News, "Mexico opium poppy growers see price drop, turn to marijuana," 22 June 2018 Fortunately, that does include the cost of fuel, which currently sits around $14 per kilogram of hydrogen. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "Where Are All the Hydrogen Cars?," 10 Aug. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kilogram.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.