kilowatt

C2 Topic:Register & Style

US /ˈkɪləˌwɑːt/ UK /ˈkɪl.ə.wɒt/ See IPA manual

Freq #54849

Meanings

1

noun
a unit of power equal to one thousand watts; symbol kW

The portable generator can deliver a maximum power of five kilowatts.
2

noun
informal, a kilowatt-hour when referring to metered electrical energy

The tariff states the price charged for each kilowatt consumed, though the precise unit is a kilowatt-hour.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a unit of power equal to... kW

2 noun · informal, a kilowatt-hour... kilowatt-hour

Word family

Forms kilowattsnet-electrical-kilowatt

Derived forms kilowatt-hourkilowatt-yearmultikilowatt

Related forms watt power electricity

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

kilowatt hour
the energy used by one kilowatt of power operating for one hour

Noun + noun

Etymology

Formed from kilo- ("one thousand") + watt, the SI unit of power named for engineer James Watt. Strictly a kilowatt measures power, while a kilowatt-hour measures energy.

Topics

Register & Style General Vocabulary

External links

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