kilo

UK: ˈkiːləʊ | US: ˈkiːloʊ

Definition

  1. n. 1. A unit of measurement equal to one thousand (used in the metric system, e.g., kilogram, kilometer).

  2. n. 2. Informal shorthand for "kilogram" (e.g., "I bought two kilos of rice").

Structure
kilo <thousand, from Greek *chilioi*>
Etymology

The word "kilo" originates from the Greek chilioi, meaning "thousand." It was adopted into French in the 19th century as part of the metric system's standardized prefixes (e.g., kilogram, kilometer). The term reflects the metric system's decimal logic, where "kilo-" consistently denotes multiplication by 1,000. Over time, "kilo" became standalone slang for "kilogram" in everyday speech.

Examples

  1. The package weighed exactly one kilo.

  2. She ran five kilometers every morning.

  3. The recipe requires half a kilo of flour.

  4. The car's fuel efficiency is 15 kilometers per liter.

  5. The scientist measured the sample in micrograms, not kilos.