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Glite Dictionary
low-cal

low-cal

5 3.1
Having fewer calories than usual
  • adjective
  • /loʊ-kæl/
  • Informal
translation icon : bajo en calorías
  • Wait, wait, baby, low-cal ranch dressing.
  • low-cal salad
  • low-cal meal
  • low-cal dressing

Examples

  • Knowing where I am in my day, calorie-wise, allows me to select a low-cal snack to tide me over.

    Blog text (30)

  • Take control of your midday meal with low-cal foods you can fix in no time.

  • Oh, a low cal protein shake.

    Tony n' Tina's Wedding (2004)

  • Do you want that low-cal breakfast?

    Zero Effect (1998)

  • - You got any low-cal root beer?

    Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986)

  • How about that low-cal root beer?

    Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986)

  • This is not billed as health food, just low-cal.

    Blog text (22)

  • I'm gonna have the garden salad and the low-cal Chinese dressing and a decaf iced tea.

    Monster-in-Law (2005)

  • I love going to new restaurants, but it can be hard to find low-cal items on the menu.

  • Your best bet is a grilled chicken salad with low-cal dressing; hold the croutons.

Synonyms

light
vslow-cal
33 2.4

Food or drink with fewer calories

focuses only on lower calorie content and not on digestibility
lite
vslow-cal
  • Informal
1 3.7

Having fewer calories or less fat than the usual version

refers specifically to fewer calories rather than mentioning fat content
ultralight
vslow-cal
3.9

Low in calories and fat, often used for food or drink

means simply fewer calories, not necessarily extremely low or promoted
superlight
vslow-cal
3.9

Very low in calories and fat, often sold as healthy food

denotes lower calorie content without the strong marketing emphasis

How Calorie-Dense

calorific
6.1
standard
675 2.7
low-cal
  • Informal
5 3.1
calorie-free
1 2.6

Surface Forms

low-cal positive
lower-cal comparative
lowest-cal superlative

Morphology

low-cal = low + calorie (semi-transparent) = low + cal

The components 'low' and 'cal' are clear, but the abbreviation 'cal' for 'calorie' may not be immediately obvious to all learners.

Etymology

The word low-cal joins low and cal, a short form of calorie, which means 'energy in food'. So a low-cal food has 'few calories' and is an easy label, like low-fat or low-sugar, to show a lighter choice.