Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (1)
1.
a cgs unit of work or energy;
the work done by a force of one dyne acting over a distance of one centimeter;
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Erg \Erg\, n. [Gr. ? work.] (Physics)
The unit of work or energy in the C. G. S. system, being the
amount of work done by a dyne working through a distance of
one centimeter; the amount of energy expended in moving a
body one centimeter against a force of one dyne (981 dynes
exert the same force as a one gram mass in the earth's
gravitational field). One foot pound is equal to 13,560,000
ergs. The absolute Joule is equivalent to 10^7 ergs, which
are equivalent to 0.2389 gram-calories at 15[deg] C. See also
mechanical equivalent of heat under equivalent.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
erg
n 1: a cgs unit of work or energy; the work done by a force of
one dyne acting over a distance of one centimeter