Meaning of carat in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈkɛrət/

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  1. Noun

    carat

    Etymology

    late Middle English (carat (sense 2 of the noun)): from French, from Italian carato, from Arabic ḳīrāṭ (a unit of weight), from Greek keration‘fruit of the carob’ (also denoting a unit of weight), diminutive of keras‘horn’, with reference to the elongated seedpod of the carob

    Definitions

    1. a unit of weight for precious stones = 200 mg
  2. 2. the unit of measurement for the proportion of gold in an alloy

    Examples

    • « 18-karat gold is 75% gold »
    • « 24-karat gold is pure gold »

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