| Main Entry: | Scoville unit |
| Part of Speech: | n |
| Definition: | a gastronomic measure indicating the amount of capsaicin present in chili peppers |
| Example: | The pungency of chile peppers is measured in multiples of 100 units, from the bell pepper at zero Scoville units to the incendiary Habanero at 300000. |
| Etymology: | 1957; fr. W. Scoville, chemist |
| Usage: | cooking |