Calorie

Thermodynamics.

Also called gram calorie, small calorie. an amount of heat exactly equal to 4.1840 joules.
Abbreviation: cal.
(usually initial capital letter) kilocalorie.
Abbreviation: Cal.

Physiology.

a unit equal to the kilocalorie, used to express the heat output of an organism and the fuel or energy value of food.
a quantity of food capable of producing such an amount of energy.

Contemporary Examples

The Most Dangerous Airline Meals Christopher Elliott August 1, 2010
How to Watch Out for Hidden Sugar and Replace With Leaner Substitutes Diana Le Dean February 22, 2013
Frozen-Yogurt Shops Are Everywhere, but We Are Nowhere Near Saturation Daniel Gross July 18, 2013
The Fight Over High-Fructose Corn Syrup Sharon Begley February 27, 2011
It’s the End of the World Unless We All Start Cooking Rachel Khong April 22, 2013

Historical Examples

The Library of Work and Play: Housekeeping Elizabeth Hale Gilman
Human Foods and Their Nutritive Value Harry Snyder
Diet and Health Lulu Hunt Peters
Dietetics for Nurses Fairfax T. Proudfit
Food in War Time Graham Lusk

noun (pl) -ries
a unit of heat, equal to 4.1868 joules (International Table calorie): formerly defined as the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1°C under standard conditions. It has now largely been replaced by the joule for scientific purposes cal Also called gram calorie, small calorie Compare Calorie
noun
Also called kilogram calorie, kilocalorie, large calorie. a unit of heat, equal to one thousand calories, often used to express the heat output of an organism or the energy value of food Cal
the amount of a specific food capable of producing one thousand calories of energy
n.

calorie
(kāl’ə-rē)