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
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The beverages, which come in Tropical Peach, Watermelon Twist and Blueberry Lemonade flavors, contain five calories and zero grams of sugar.
—
Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Fahrenheit Best For: Detoxing, burning calories, boosting mood, glowing skin, reducing stress, increase blood flow
How to Use: Wearing skin-covering clothes and socks, place the Sauna Blanket Towel Insert into the blanket.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2025
During a TikTok Live on Tuesday, April 22, the singer, 36, candidly opened up about reworking her diet and eating in a calorie deficit.
—Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025
That’s why the CDC recommends only 10% of your daily total calories come from it.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 23 Apr. 2025
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Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Fahrenheit Best For: Detoxing, burning calories, boosting mood, glowing skin, reducing stress, increase blood flow
How to Use: Wearing skin-covering clothes and socks, place the Sauna Blanket Towel Insert into the blanket.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2025
During a TikTok Live on Tuesday, April 22, the singer, 36, candidly opened up about reworking her diet and eating in a calorie deficit.
—Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025
That’s why the CDC recommends only 10% of your daily total calories come from it.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for calorie
Cite this Entry
“Calorie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calorie. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
calorie
noun
cal·o·rie
variants
also calory
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
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
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