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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The 100 calorie, 5% alcohol-by-volume drinks will go on sale in the United States this month. 
Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 8 Sep. 2022 The FreshlyFit menu contains the calorie and carb-conscious meals. Amy Fischer Ms, Rd, Good Housekeeping, 26 Aug. 2022 Authentic Texas ranch water has also been turning up among the canned cocktails at stores nationwide, catering to drinkers seeking lower-sugar, lower-calorie and gluten-free choices. Robin Soslow, Chron, 22 Aug. 2022 The app creates a daily calorie budget based on age, weight, height and gender. Amy Fischer Ms, Rd, Good Housekeeping, 30 Aug. 2022 Cakes are baked from scratch and worth every calorie. BostonGlobe.com, 8 Apr. 2021 No calorie is devoid of nutrients, because calories are nutrients. Christine Byrne, Outside Online, 28 Feb. 2021 What item on the McDonald’s menu has the highest calorie count? Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2022 Real sugars would boost the calorie count, after all. Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 12 July 2022 See More
Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 8 Sep. 2022 The FreshlyFit menu contains the calorie and carb-conscious meals. Amy Fischer Ms, Rd, Good Housekeeping, 26 Aug. 2022 Authentic Texas ranch water has also been turning up among the canned cocktails at stores nationwide, catering to drinkers seeking lower-sugar, lower-calorie and gluten-free choices. Robin Soslow, Chron, 22 Aug. 2022 The app creates a daily calorie budget based on age, weight, height and gender. Amy Fischer Ms, Rd, Good Housekeeping, 30 Aug. 2022 Cakes are baked from scratch and worth every calorie. BostonGlobe.com, 8 Apr. 2021 No calorie is devoid of nutrients, because calories are nutrients. Christine Byrne, Outside Online, 28 Feb. 2021 What item on the McDonald’s menu has the highest calorie count? Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2022 Real sugars would boost the calorie count, after all. Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 12 July 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
calorie
noun
cal·o·rie ˈka-lə-rē
ˈkal-rē
1
: a unit for measuring heat equal to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree Celsius
2
: a unit of heat used to indicate the amount of energy foods produce in the human body that is equal to 1000 calories
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