Phrase guide

Scoville heat unit

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The unit in which the Scoville scale is measured.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

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Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Scoville + heat + unit. From Wilbur Scoville, who invented the unit and its scale. From being a unit of measure of the perceived heat or burning from the spiciness engendered by the capsaicin content.