n. (also calory) (pl. -ies) a unit of quantity of heat:
1. (in full small calorie) the amount needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water through 1 °C.
Usage:
Abbr.: cal.
2 (in full large calorie) the amount needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water through
1. °C, often used to measure the energy value of foods.
Usage:
Abbr.: Cal.
Etymology: F, arbitr. f. L calor heat + -ie