kilo

¹

[kee-loh, kil-oh]

noun

plural

kilos 

1. kilogram.

2. kilometer.

3. (a word used in communications to represent the letterK. )

kilo-

²

1. a Greek combining form meaning “thousand,” introduced from French in the nomenclature of the metric system (kiloliter ); on this model, used in the formation of compound words in other scientific measurements (kilowatt ).

kilo

¹

/ ˈkiːləʊ /

noun

1. short for kilogram kilometre

kilo

²

/ ˈkiːləʊ /

noun

1. communications a code word for the letter k

kilo-

³

prefix

1. k. denoting 10³ (1000)

   kilometre

2. (in computer technology) denoting 2 ¹⁰ (1024): kilobyte: in computer usage, kilo- is restricted to sizes of storage (e.g. kilobit ) when it means 1024; in other computer contexts it retains its usual meaning of 1000

kilo–

1. A prefix that means:

2. One thousand, as in kilowatt, one thousand watts.

3. 2 ¹⁰ (that is, 1,024), which is the power of 2 closest to 1,000, as in kilobyte.

Word History and Origins

Origin of kilo¹

First recorded in 1865–70; shortened form

Origin of kilo²

< French, representing Greek chī́lioi a thousand

Word History and Origins

Origin of kilo¹

from French, from Greek khilioi thousand

Example Sentences

At times the price of flour reached above $85 for a kilo, though that figure began to reduce.

From BBC

We cannot provide a kilo of flour for our children.

From BBC

A search of his cell uncovered phones which had videos showing kilo blocks of drugs and footage of his girlfriend's pet parrot Mango talking and playing with drugs money.

From BBC

"We know that we might get injured or killed at any time, yet we still go there to get a kilo of flour."

From BBC

"There was a stage I was a bit heavier - three or four kilos more than now - and I kind of lost what I was good at," he told BBC Sport.

From BBC

When To Use

What does kilo- mean?

Kilo- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “thousand.” It is often used in units of measure.Kilo- comes from Greek chī́lioi, meaning “a thousand.” The Latin translation of chī́lioi is mille, “a thousand,” which is the source of English terms such as millennium and millipede. To learn more, check out our entries for both words.