CARAT


Meaning of CARAT in English

/ ˈkærət; NAmE / noun ( abbr. ct )

1.

a unit for measuring the weight of diamonds and other precious stones , equal to 200 milligrams

2.

( especially BrE ) ( NAmE usually karat ) a unit for measuring how pure gold is. The purest gold is 24 carats :

an 18-carat gold ring

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WORD ORIGIN

late Middle English (in sense 2): from French , from Italian carato , from Arabic qīrāṭ (a unit of weight), from Greek keration fruit of the carob tree (also denoting a unit of weight), diminutive of keras horn, with reference to the elongated seed pod of the carob.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.