carat

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Contents

English [edit]

Alternative forms [edit]

  • (unit of purity): karat (North America)

Pronunciation [edit]

Etymology [edit]

Middle French carat, from Italian carato, from Arabic قيراط (qirāṭ, husk), from Ancient Greek κεράτιον (keration, carob seed), diminutive form of κέρας (keras, horn).

Noun [edit]

carat (plural carats)

  1. A unit of weight for precious stones and pearls, equivalent to 200 milligrams.
  2. Formerly, any of several units of weight, varying from 189 to 212 mg, the weight of a carob seed.
  3. A measure of the purity of gold, pure gold being 24 carats.

Translations [edit]

External links [edit]