Calorific

/ˌkæl.ə.ˈrɪf.ɪk/ adjective

Definition

Producing or relating to heat; having a high energy content or capacity to generate thermal energy or warmth.

Etymology

From Latin 'calor' (heat) and 'facere' (to make), with the adjectival suffix '-ic.' The term has been used since the 18th century in scientific and everyday English.

Kelly Says

The calorific value of food is literally how much heat energy your body could get from burning it—scientists actually used to measure this by literally burning food in bombs called calorimeters to see exactly how much energy it contained.

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