kilocalorie

Plural: kilocalories

Noun

• 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 non-SI unit of energy equal to 1,000 calories (small calories), used (now rare) in chemistry or physics; equal to 1 calorie as used in nutrition. Symbol kcal.

Synonyms

Calorie, kilogram calorie, large calorie, nutritionist's calorie, calorie