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# kilowatt

noun (a kilowatt, kilowatts; kW)

«kilowatt» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (science) A unit of power equal to 1,000 watts, written kW. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kilowatt/#m1)
2. It measures how fast an electrical machine uses or makes energy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kilowatt/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science and maths lessons pupils convert units (1 kW = 1,000 W) and work out energy use; electricity bills charge for kilowatt-hours (kWh): using 1 kilowatt for 1 hour. Kettles, heaters and car engines are rated in kilowatts. Phrases: kilowatt-hour (kWh), a 2-kilowatt heater.

### Examples

- A kilowatt is 1,000 watts. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kilowatt/#x1)
- Our kettle uses 3 kilowatts of power. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kilowatt/#x2)
- Electricity is sold in kilowatt-hours. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kilowatt/#x3)
- The solar panels on our roof make about 4 kilowatts on a sunny day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kilowatt/#x4)
- 2.5 kilowatts is the same as 2,500 watts. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kilowatt/#x5)
- The electric car's motor is rated at 150 kilowatts. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kilowatt/#x6)
- A 1-kilowatt heater on for 3 hours uses 3 kilowatt-hours. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kilowatt/#x7)

### Note

Countable. Symbol: kW (small k, capital W). Trap: a kilowatt (kW) is power (how fast); a kilowatt-hour (kWh) is energy (how much). In maths problems: multiply kW by hours to get kWh; multiply by 1,000 to get watts.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «kilowatt» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kilowatt/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«kilowatt» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/kilowatt.html) on Mova free.