erg

1 of 2

noun

ˈərg 

: a centimeter-gram-second unit of work equal to the work done by a force of one dyne acting through a distance of one centimeter and equivalent to 10⁻⁷ joule

erg-

2 of 2

combining form

variants or ergo-

: work

ergometer

Examples of erg in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Barry’s student-athletes played games with the SEED students in the Health & Sports Center, ranging from tug-of-war, obstacle courses, racing events, basketball drills and skills competitions, using the erg to simulate rowing training and educational guessing games. —Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024

According to this calculator, the same 154-pound person will burn 733 calories in an hour doing vigorous rowing on an erg machine. —Greg Presto, Men's Health, 26 July 2023

Such packages are sold on the public’s faulty intuition that an erg of green energy consumed is an erg of fossil energy that stays in the ground. —Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 29 July 2022

The density of dark energy has been measured to be about 100-millionth of an erg per cubic centimeter. —Alan Lightman, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Greek ergon work — more at work

Combining form

Greek, from ergon

First Known Use

Noun

1873, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

erg

noun

ˈərg 

: a centimeter-gram-second unit of work equal to the work done by a force of one dyne acting through a distance of one centimeter and equal to one ten-millionth joule

Medical Definition

erg

1 of 2 noun

ˈərg 

: a cgs unit of work equal to the work done by a force of one dyne acting through a distance of one centimeter and equivalent to 10⁻⁷ joule

ERG

2 of 2 abbreviation

electroretinogram