Centiliter Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
🥤
centiliter
[ˈsɛn.tɪˌli.tər ]
Definition
unit of measurement
A centiliter is a metric unit of volume that is equal to one hundredth of a liter. It is commonly used in measuring liquids, particularly in culinary and scientific contexts. The abbreviation for centiliter is cl. This unit is prevalent in countries that use the metric system and is often encountered in recipes or nutrition labels. For instance, beverages may be sold in centiliters or nutritional information may specify serving sizes in centiliters.
Synonyms
cl, volume measure.
Examples of usage
- A bottle of wine contains 75 centiliters.
- You should add 10 centiliters of water to the mixture.
- The recipe calls for 5 centiliters of olive oil.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Science
- In laboratory settings, precise measurements like centiliters are essential for experiments and chemical reactions.
- A standard bottle of wine often contains 750 milliliters, which can also be represented as 75 centiliters.
- Medical dosages are sometimes given in centiliters to ensure accurate delivery of liquid medications.
Culinary Context
- In cooking, some recipes use centiliters to measure liquids, especially in European cuisine.
- Bartenders often use centiliters to measure spirits when mixing cocktails, as precision affects taste.
- A centiliter is roughly equivalent to about 6.76 teaspoons, a handy conversion for cooking.
Cultural Usage
- In many countries, the metric system, which includes units like the centiliter, is the standard for measuring liquids.
- France and other European nations typically label beverage containers in centiliters to simplify understanding for consumers.
- Centiliters appear on food and drink nutrition labels, helping people track their liquid intake.
Origin of 'centiliter'
Main points about word origin
- The prefix 'centi-' comes from Latin, meaning 'hundred', indicating that a centiliter is one-hundredth of a liter.
- The word 'liter' originated from the French word 'litre', which was based on the Greek 'litra', a unit of weight.
- Centiliters became popular in the 19th century as countries moved towards standardized measurements.
The term 'centiliter' originates from the combination of two components: the prefix 'centi-' and the word 'liter'. The prefix 'centi-' is derived from the Latin word 'centum', meaning 'hundred', thus indicating a hundredth part. The liter itself is a metric unit of volume that was established in France in the late 18th century during the French Revolution as part of a system of measures. The liter was originally defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water at its maximum density. As the metric system evolved, various subdivisions of the liter were introduced, including the centiliter, which was adopted widely in the 20th century for its practicality in everyday use, especially in cooking and beverages. The centiliter is now a standard volume measurement used in many countries that follow the metric system, reflecting the global influence and utility of the metric system in scientific and common practices.