kilo
UK[ˈkiːləʊ]US[ˈkiːloʊ]
n
A kilogram.
n
A kilometer.
Etymology
The term 'kilo' entered English in the late 18th century as an abbreviation for 'kilogram', a unit of mass in the metric system. It is derived from the French 'kilo-', itself from the Greek 'khilioi', meaning 'a thousand'. This reflects its function as a standard metric prefix denoting a factor of one thousand. As a standalone noun, 'kilo' colloquially refers to a kilogram of a substance, often in commercial or informal contexts, demonstrating how technical prefixes can evolve into independent lexical items.
Analysis
The word 'kilo' is a clipping or short form of longer metric units like 'kilogram' or 'kilometer'. It is not productively segmented in modern English, though it originates from the Greek morpheme 'khilioi' meaning 'thousand'.
Examples
The recipe calls for a kilo of flour.
He ran the last kilo of the race in under four minutes.
The price of coffee beans has risen by five dollars per kilo.