Carat

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkærÉ™t/

Alternative forms

• (unit of purity) karat North America

Origin

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

Full definition of carat

Noun

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.