definition of carat from Oxford Dictionaries Online


	Email Cite Text size: A A Print options: Example sentences Synonyms Categories carat (carat) Syllabification: On Off Entry from World dictionary Pronunciation:/ˈkarət/ noun 1 a unit of weight for precious stones and pearls, equivalent to 200 milligrams:a half-carat diamond ring 2 (US also karat)a measure of the purity of gold, pure gold being 24 carats:23-carat gold Origin: late Middle English (in carat (sense 2) ): from French, from Italian carato, from Arabic qīrāṭ (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 seed pod of the carob highly attractive and valuable piece of mineral View entry small loop or series of small loops of twisted thread in lace or embroidery View entry equal in value, amount, function, meaning View entry one thousandth of gram View entry precious stone consisting of clear and colourless crystalline form of pure carbon View entry freedom from adulteration or contamination View entry yellow precious metal, chemical element of atomic number 79 View entry not mixed or adulterated with any other substance or material View entry relating to France or its people or language View entry Romance language of Italy, descended from Latin View entry Semitic language of Arabs, spoken by some 150 million people View entry ancient or modern language of Greece View entry unit of weight for precious stones and pearls View entry measure of purity of gold, pure gold being 24 karats View entry Meaning abstraction » measure » unit of measurement » weight unit Subject Systems and scales » Measure Click any link to see words in that category Meaning abstraction » measure » unit of measurement Subject Systems and scales » Measure Click any link to see words in that category		More words in this category bl bushel calorie calorie centi- cgs cubit decametre decigram ell¹ fl. GW hour kcal lux millilitre millisecond quart rad³ ton¹