kilo-

Prefix meaning thousand

Kilo- is a prefix meaning one thousand, used in the metric system to denote units multiplied by 1,000.

A kilogram is 1,000 grams; a kilometer is 1,000 meters.

In computing, kilo- sometimes means 1,024 (2^10) rather than exactly 1,000, though this usage is gradually being replaced by the prefix kibi-.

Informally, kilo on its own typically refers to a kilogram, especially when discussing body weight or quantities of drugs.

metric

metric

Standard of measurement

SIUniversal measurement framework
gramMetric mass unit
meterDevice that measures usage

liter · centimeter · millimeter · decimeter · hectare · centi- · milli- · deci- · hecto- · mega-

prefix

kilobit

Thousand-bit digital unit

kilopascalPressure measurement unit
kilocycleThousand cycles per second
kilobaudData transmission rate measure

mass

weight

Measure of heaviness

gramMetric mass unit
tonneThousand-kilogram mass unit
heavinessState of being weighty

scales · weigh-in · bulk · density · mass · load · heft · pounds · ounces · measurement

thousand

thousand

Ten times a hundred

multiplierNumber that scales another
magnitudeSize or scale
scaleMeasure of relative size

factor · myriad · quantity · numerical · increment · order of magnitude

data

kilobit

Thousand-bit digital unit

megabyteData capacity measure
gigabyteData storage unit
bandwidthData transmission capacity

storage · memory · transfer rate · file size · data · digital · binary

Opposites

metric scale magnitude

Metric prefix for thousandth

micro- · nano- · pico- · centi- · deci-

Phrases

square kilometresUnits of area measurement
kilometers per hourMetric velocity measurement
kilowatt hourStandard electricity consumption unit
per kilo
square kilometersMetric area measurement unit
kilometer markerHighway distance post

Family

kilometer, kilo, kilogram, kilometers, kilograms, kilowatt, kilometres, kilowatts, kilometre

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G