| n. | 1. | (Physics) The unit of heat according to the French standard; the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram (sometimes, one gram) of water one degree centigrade, or from 0° to 1°. Compare the English standard unit, |
| Noun | 1. | calorie - unit of heat defined as the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree centigrade at atmospheric pressure Synonyms: gram calorie, small calorie |
| 2. | Calorie - a unit of heat equal to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree at one atmosphere pressure; used by nutritionists to characterize the energy-producing potential in food |
a unit representing the energy provided by food. Carbohydrate, protein, fat, and alcohol provide calories in the diet. Carbohydrate and protein have 4 calories per gram, fat has 9 calories per gram, and alcohol has 7 calories per gram.
BTU, British thermal unit, atomerg, dinamode, dyne, energid, erg, foot-pound, great calorie, horsepower-hour, horsepower-year, joule, kilocalorie, kilogram-meter, kilowatt-hour, photon, quantum, rational calorie, therm, thermal unit