Calorie Meaning

/ˈkæləɹi/
B1

Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Listen pronunciation

nounA non-SI unit of energy, equivalent to 4.184 kilojoules, that can raise the temperature of a kilogram of water by one degree Celsius. This is the unit normally used in food labeling.

nounA non-SI unit of energy, equivalent to 4.184 joules, that can raise the temperature of a gram of water by one degree Celsius. This unit was formerly widely used in chemistry and physics.

The calorie is an exact measure of the energy in food.
High calorie foods are bad for my health.
CEFR Practice Quiz
A single chocolate chip cookie contains about 200 ____ of energy.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
A single chocolate bar can have a very high ____ content today city.

Borrowed from French calorie, formed from Latin calor. It was originally defined as the large calorie in the early 19th century, with the small calorie being defined some decades later.

"Biotics possess extraordinary abilities, but they must live with minor inconveniences. The most obvious issue is getting adequate nutrition. Creating biotic mass effects takes such a toll on metabolism that active biotics develop ravenous appetites. The standard Alliance combat ration for a soldier is 3000 calories per day; biotics are given 4500, as well as a canteen of potent energy drink for quick refreshment after hard combat." — 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Biotics: Life as a Biotic Codex entry:
"Mostly, the microbiome is beneficial. It helps with digestion and enables people to extract a lot more calories from their food than would otherwise be possible. Research over the past few years, however, has implicated it in diseases from atherosclerosis to asthma to autism." — 2013 June 29, “A punch in the gut”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8842, pages 72–3:

Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words

CEFR Practice Quiz
A single chocolate chip cookie contains about 200 ____ of energy.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
A single chocolate bar can have a very high ____ content today city.

Expand Your Vocabulary with LexUp

Master English words using smart flashcards, play exciting word rounds, and compete with other learners worldwide.

Browse CEFR Words Alphabetically