Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Carat
Car′at
(kăr′ăt)
, Noun.
[F.
carat
(cf. It. carato
, OPg. quirate
, Pg. & Sp. quilate
), Ar. qīrāt
bean or pea shell, a weight of four grains, a carat, fr. Gr. κεράτιον
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.
☞ 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.
2.
A twenty-fourth part; – a term used in estimating the proportionate fineness of gold.
☞ 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. Webster 1828 Edition
Carat
CARAT
,Noun.
1.
The weight of four grains, used by gold-smiths and jewelers in weighing precious stones and pearls.2.
The weight that expresses the fineness of gold. The whole mass of gold is divided into 24 equal parts, and as many 24th parts as it contains of pure gold, it is called gold of so many carats. Thus gold of twenty-two parts of pure metal, is gold of twenty-two carats. The carat in Great Britain is divided into four grains; among the Germans into twelve parts; and among the French into thirty-two.3.
The value of any thing.