Carat — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈker-ət/ car·at

Meaning & Definition of Carat

Carat (noun)

  1. a unit of fineness for gold equal to 1/24 part of pure gold in an alloy
  2. a unit of weight for precious stones equal to 200 milligrams

Origin & Etymology of Carat

Middle English carrat measure of fineness in gold, from Middle French carat measure of fineness in gold or of weight in gems, from Italian carato, from Arabic qīrāṭ bean pod, a small weight, from Greek keration carob bean, a small weight, from diminutive of kerat-, keras horn horn

First known use: 1555

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Carat

Frequently Asked Questions about Carat

What does "Carat" mean?

"Carat" means a unit of fineness for gold equal to 1/24 part of pure gold in an alloy. As a noun, it is defined as: a unit of fineness for gold equal to 1/24 part of pure gold in an alloy. It has 2 distinct senses.

Is "Carat" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Carat" is a noun.

Is "Carat" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Carat" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Carat"?

"Carat" is pronounced /ˈker-ət/ and divided into syllables as car·at.

What is the origin of the word "Carat"?

"Carat" comes from Middle English carrat measure of fineness in gold, from Middle French carat measure of fineness in gold or of weight in gems, from Italian carato, from Arabic qīrāṭ bean pod, a small weight, from Greek keration carob bean, a small weight, from diminutive of kerat-, keras horn horn. First known use: 1555.

What CEFR level is "Carat"?

"Carat" is a C2-level word in SophDict's CEFR vocabulary lists, which group English words from A1 (beginner) to C2 (proficient).

What topics is "Carat" used in?

"Carat" is commonly used in topics such as Advanced GRE / C2.