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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Instead of can’t-look-away infomercials, there are viral TikToks with users claiming that the devices can, like the once-buzzy weights, give your muscles more of a workout, allegedly burning more calories and aiding weight loss.
—
Erica Sloan, SELF, 12 Sep. 2025
More women are counting macros (protein, carbohydrates and fat) instead of calories.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Subway has revealed its Fresh Fit Menu will return to stores later this month, with four sandwiches filled with at least 20 grams of protein and less than 500 calories.
—Toby Meyjes, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
New York City is also expanding restrictions on low- and no-calorie sweeteners in food and beverages served to all ages, with a ban on food served to children 18 and younger.
—Louis Biscotti, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
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Erica Sloan, SELF, 12 Sep. 2025
More women are counting macros (protein, carbohydrates and fat) instead of calories.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Subway has revealed its Fresh Fit Menu will return to stores later this month, with four sandwiches filled with at least 20 grams of protein and less than 500 calories.
—Toby Meyjes, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
New York City is also expanding restrictions on low- and no-calorie sweeteners in food and beverages served to all ages, with a ban on food served to children 18 and younger.
—Louis Biscotti, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 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 14 Sep. 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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