carat
Carat (noun) means a unit of mass used to weigh gemstones, equal to exactly 200 milligrams. Example: “The engagement ring featured a two-carat diamond.”
How to use carat
Learner’s notesDon't confuse "carat" (weight of a gemstone or gold purity) with "karat," the American spelling used specifically for gold purity, or "carrot," the vegetable.
Word forms
carats plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The engagement ring featured a two-_____ diamond.
Etymology
From Arabic qirat, "small unit of weight," ultimately from Greek keration, "little horn" or "carob seed" — carob seeds were once used as a natural, fairly consistent weight for measuring gems.
Synonyms
View more →Rhymes for carat
See all rhymes for carat →Frequently asked questions
What does “carat” mean?
The word “carat” means a unit of mass used to weigh gemstones, equal to exactly 200 milligrams.
How do you pronounce “carat”?
“Carat” is pronounced KA-ruht (/ˈkæ.ɹət/ in IPA).
How do you use “carat” in a sentence?
Here is “carat” used in a sentence: “The engagement ring featured a two-carat diamond.”
What part of speech is “carat”?
“Carat” is a noun.
Where does the word “carat” come from?
The word “carat” comes from Arabic. From Arabic qirat, "small unit of weight," ultimately from Greek keration, "little horn" or "carob seed" — carob seeds were once used as a natural, fairly consistent weight for measuring gems.
How many meanings does “carat” have?
“Carat” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a unit of mass used to weigh gemstones, equal to exactly 200 milligrams.
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