CARAT Definition & Meaning

carat

[kar-uht]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a unit of weight in gemstones, 200 milligrams (about 3 grains of troy or avoirdupois weight). c., ct.
karat.

carat

/ ˈ��æ��ə�� /

noun

a measure of the weight of precious stones, esp diamonds. It was formerly defined as 3.17 grains, but the international carat is now standardized as 0.20 grams
Usual US spelling: karat.��a measure of the proportion of gold in an alloy, expressed as the number of parts of gold in 24 parts of the alloy

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of carat¹

1545–55; < Medieval Latin carratus (used by alchemists) < Arabic ��ī��ṭ weight of 4 grains < Greek ��á�پ��ǲ� carob bean, weight of 3.333 grains, literally, little horn, equivalent to kerat- (stem of ��é�� ) horn + -ion diminutive suffix

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of carat¹

C16: from Old French, from Medieval Latin carratus, from Arabic ��ī�� weight of four grains, carat, from Greek keration a little horn, from keras horn

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Jewels from the original, which was set with 650 diamonds and weighed around 2,800 carats, were sold piecemeal on the black market.

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Over 25 carats of diamonds surround the band, and an unenhanced pink sapphire sits at its center.

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It contains just under 400 diamonds, rubies and sapphires and is set onto yellow gold, with a total karat weight of approximately 6 carats.

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These gold hoop earrings, designed by Nolan, feature diamonds totaling 1 carat.

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Officials have confiscated electronic devices, documents, and over 8,000 carats of suspected synthetic gem stones apparently meant for export to India.

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carapace Caratacus

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