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Definition of carat

carat

/ˈkær.ət/
car · at
Plural:carats
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carat Lexical Profile

carat Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A unit of mass used for measuring gemstones and pearls, strictly standardized as equal to 200 milligrams (0.2 grams).

Example

"The jeweler examined the two-carat diamond through a magnifying loupe to assess its clarity."

2

British A measure of the purity of gold in an alloy, expressed in twenty-fourths of the total weight, with 24 carats representing pure gold.

Example

"She inherited an antique eighteen-carat gold locket from her grandmother."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for carat

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'carat' with its homophones 'karat' (preferred in American English for measuring gold purity), 'caret' (a proofreading symbol), or 'carrot' (the root vegetable).

• Rhymes for carat

• Nearby Words

caramelization
caramelize
caramelly
carat
caravan
caraway
carb

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French 'carat', from Italian 'carato', from Arabic 'qīrāṭ', and ultimately from Ancient Greek 'kerátion' (carob seed), as the uniform seeds of the carob tree were historically used as counterweights on precision scales for gems and precious metals.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Carat. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/carat
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