caloric
kuh-LOR-ik
/kəˈlɔːrɪk/
Relating to heat or calories.
Often used to describe the energy density of food.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'calor', meaning 'heat'. In the 18th century, scientists believed heat was a physical fluid called 'caloric' that flowed from hot objects to cold ones. We kept the name for the unit of energy in food.
Word relationships
- energy-dense: A more modern term used in nutrition science.
Commonly confused with
- thermal: Thermal refers to heat in a general physical sense, while caloric is specifically tied to the unit of the calorie.
Word family
- calorie (noun): A unit of energy.
Collocations
- caloric intake
- caloric density
- caloric deficit
Example sentences
- "The caloric content of food is a measure of its energy value, determined by how much heat it produces when burned." A textbook on nutrition and energy. (Principles of Human Nutrition)
- "Reducing your caloric intake while increasing physical activity is the standard advice for weight loss." Discussing weight management strategies.
Memory hook
Think of a 'caldron' (cauldron) full of hot soup—it's full of 'calor' (heat/calories). Caloric is about the 'heat' (energy) in food.
When not to use
In modern physics, 'caloric' is an obsolete term for a fluid once thought to carry heat; stick to the nutritional context.
Fun facts
- One dietary calorie (kilocalorie) is actually the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree Celsius.
Related words
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