noun
kilometre
kih-LOM-ih-tuh
noun
1
A metric unit of distance equal to 1,000 metres, abbreviated km.
"The nearest town is about ten kilometres away."
"She runs five kilometres every morning."
How to Use Kilometre
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA distance measurement equal to 1,000 metres, used almost everywhere in the world except the US.
UK vs US
Spelled "kilometre" in British English and "kilometer" in American English; the US measures road distance in miles instead.
Common pairings
kilometres per hour
a few kilometres away
run a kilometre
Word Forms
kilometres plural
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Etymology
From French kilomètre, combining Greek khilioi ("thousand") with metron ("measure").