Carat

Carat
Carat Car"at (k[a^]r"[a^]t), n. [F. carat (cf. It. carato, OPg. quirate, Pg. & Sp. quilate), Ar. q[imac]r[=a]t bean or pea shell, a weight of four grains, a carat, fr. Gr. kera`tion a little horn, the fruit of the carob tree, a weight, a carat. See {Horn}.] 1. The weight by which precious stones and pearls are weighed. [1913 Webster]

Note: The carat equals three and one fifth grains Troy, and is divided into four grains, sometimes called carat grains. Diamonds and other precious stones are estimated by carats and fractions of carats, and pearls, usually, by carat grains. --Tiffany. [1913 Webster]

2. A twenty-fourth part; -- a term used in estimating the proportionate fineness of gold. [1913 Webster]

Note: A mass of metal is said to be so many carats fine, according to the number of twenty-fourths of pure gold which it contains; as, 22 carats fine (goldsmith's standard) = 22 parts of gold, 1 of copper, and 1 of silver. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • carat — [ kara ] n. m. • 1355; it. carato, ar. qîrât « petit poids »; gr. keration « tiers d obole » 1 ♦ Chaque vingt quatrième d or fin contenu dans une quantité d or. Or à dix huit carats. 2 ♦ Métrol. Unité de mesure de masse valant 0,2 gramme,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Carat — or karat may refer to:In the gem business: * Carat (mass), a unit of mass for gemstones, equal to 0.2 gram * Carat (purity) or karat, a unit of purity for goldIn entertainment: * Carat (board game), an abstract tile based German style board game… …   Wikipedia

  • carat — CARÁT, carate, s.n. 1. Indice pentru conţinutul relativ în aur al aliajelor acestuia, egal cu a 24 a parte din masa totală. 2. Unitate de măsură a greutăţii pietrelor preţioase, egală cu 0,2 grame. [var.: carátă s.f.] – Din fr. carat. Trimis de… …   Dicționar Român

  • carat — car‧at [ˈkærət] noun [countable] 1. also karat a measurement used to show how pure gold is: • a 22 carat gold chain 2. a measurement equal to 200 Milligrams on the scale of measurement for the weight of jewels …   Financial and business terms

  • Carat UK — is a leading independent British media agency based in Covent Garden, London. It currently holds the Media Week (a leading UK industry publication) award for Agency of the Year and it the only agency to retain this title for two years in a row.… …   Wikipedia

  • carat — CARAT. s. m. Certain titre, certain degré de bonté et de perfection dans l or. Il ne se dit point des autres métaux. De l or à vingt carats, au vingt et unième carat. Il n y a point dans le commerce, d or à vingt quatre carats. f♛/b] On dit… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • cărat — CĂRÁT s.n. 1. Acţiunea de a (se) căra; transport de materiale (în cantitate mare). 2. Timpul când se cară fânul sau recolta. – v. căra. Trimis de valeriu, 13.09.2007. Sursa: DEX 98  CĂRÁT s. cărare, ducere, dus, purtare, transport, transportare …   Dicționar Român

  • carat — (n.) mid 15c., from M.Fr. carat measure of the fineness of gold (14c.), from It. carato, from Arabic qirat pod, husk, weight of 4 grains, from Gk. keration carob seed, lit. little horn dim. of keras horn (see KERATO (Cf. kerato )). Carob beans… …   Etymology dictionary

  • carat — CARAT. s. m. Certain degré de bonté & de perfection de l or. Il ne se dit point des autres metaux. De l or à vingt carats, au vingt & uniéme carat. il n y a point d or à vingt quatre carats. On dit prov. & fig. qu Un homme est sot, est… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • carat — carat, caret Carat (AmE karat) is a measure of the purity of gold; caret is a mark (λ) for showing an insertion in printing or writing …   Modern English usage

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