Definition

A unit of energy equal to 1,000 calories, commonly used to measure the energy content of foods.

Example

A slice of pizza contains about 300 kilocalories.

Conversation

Did you know that a slice of pizza has about 300 kilocalories?

Really? I had no idea it was that much!

Yeah, it's surprising how quickly those kilocalories add up.

I guess I should pay more attention to what I'm eating!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Kilocalorie → It is formed from "kilo-" (from Greek "chilioi", meaning thousand) and "calorie" (from Latin "calor", meaning heat). The term kilocalorie refers to a unit of energy equal to one thousand calories, which is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree Celsius.

Memory Tip

Think of 'kilo-' meaning a thousand, and 'calorie' relating to heat — so a kilocalorie is a thousand units of heat energy.

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