Calorific

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˌkæləˈɹɪf.ɪk/

Definitions

1. Pertaining to the energy content in food that can generate heat when ingested
2. Relating to the potential energy provided by nutrients that contributes to metabolic processes in living organisms
3. Denoting the capacity of a substance to yield energy in the form of heat upon consumption

Etymology: "Calorific" is built from Latin "calor" (heat) and the combining element "-ficus" (making or producing), so the word literally means "heat-making." The Latin adjective "calorificus" was itself formed from those parts, and English took the word over through French "calorifique," which shows the same structure. The sense has stayed close to its roots. Where "calor" named heat as a physical quality, "calorific" describes a property that produces heat, and in modern usage it is most often applied to food and fuel, as in measuring how much energy a given amount releases when burned or eaten. The Latin "-ficus" suffix is the same one that appears in words like "terrific" and "pacific," which is why the word reads as a plain description of what a substance does rather than a figure of speech.

Synonyms: thermal, heating, warming

Antonyms: cooling, chilling