Kilograms

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A measurement unit for mass in the metric system that is equivalent to one thousand grams is used in various scientific applications
2. This unit quantifies weight and mass, specifically equating to 1,000 grams in the metric system
3. A metric measurement of mass where one unit equals one thousand grams

Etymology: The plural "kilograms" is simply the regular plural of "kilogram," the unit of mass that is the base unit of the International System of Units. The singular word came into English from French "kilogramme," and its two parts are easy to read: "kilo-" is a prefix meaning a thousand, and "gram" is the unit it modifies. So a kilogram is a thousand grams. The prefix "kilo-" comes from Greek "khilioi," meaning "thousand," and it was attached to the metric unit "gram" when the French metric system was developed. The word therefore names a mass of one thousand grams, with the gram itself being a much smaller unit.

Synonyms: kilos, weight units