karat

or car·at

[ kar-uht ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a unit for measuring the fineness of gold, pure gold being 24 karats fine. : k., kt.

karat

/ ˈkærət /

noun

a measure of the proportion of gold in an alloy, expressed as the number of parts of gold in 24 parts of the alloy Also spelt (in Britain and certain other countries)carat

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Word History and Origins

Origin of karat¹

First recorded in 1550–60; spelling variant of carat

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Word History and Origins

Origin of karat¹

C16: from Old French, from Medieval Latin carratus, from Arabic qīrāt weight of four grains, carat, from Greek keration a little horn, from keras horn

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Example Sentences

It is now on the market as kunzite, and a cut stone of one karat in weight sells for fifty dollars and more.

From Project Gutenberg

It's like a fellow handing out a twenty-four karat gold bar to a rube by mistake, under the impression it only looks like one.

From Project Gutenberg

There could be no shadow of doubt as to the genuineness of the claim that the trophy was of eighteen-karat gold.

From Project Gutenberg

Selim bought her last winter for a ten karat ruby and a pint of sapphires.

From Project Gutenberg

During the past five years, when the product in the Congo fields has grown steadily, not a single karat has been stolen.

From Project Gutenberg

Kara Sea karate

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