a Greek combining form meaning “thousand,” introduced from French in the nomenclature of the metric system (kiloliter); on this model, used in the formation of compound words in other scientific measurements (kilowatt).
Origin
< French, representing Greekchī́lioi a thousand
British Dictionary definitions for kilo-
kilo-
prefix
1.
denoting 10³ (1000): kilometre, k
2.
(in computer technology) denoting 210 (1024): kilobyte: in computer usage, kilo- is restricted to sizes of storage (e.g. kilobit) when it means 1024; in other computer contexts it retains its usual meaning of 1000
Word Origin
from French, from Greek khilioi thousand
Word Origin and History for kilo-
word-forming element meaning "one thousand," introduced in French 1795, when the metric system was officially adopted there, from Greek khilioi "thousand," of unknown origin.
kilo- in Medicine
kilo-pref. One thousand (103): kilogram.
kilo- in Science
kilo-
A prefix that means:
One thousand, as in kilowatt, one thousand watts.
210 (that is, 1,024), which is the power of 2 closest to 1,000, as in kilobyte.