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carat

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carat


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  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. 
 
  2.  A  twenty-fourth  part  --  a  term  used  in  estimating  the 
  proportionate  fineness  of  gold. 
 
  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  carat 
  n  1:  a  unit  of  weight  for  precious  stones  =  200  mg 
  2:  the  unit  of  measurement  for  the  proportion  of  gold  in  an 
  alloy;  18-karat  gold  is  75%  gold;  24-karat  gold  is  pure 
  gold  [syn:  {Karat}] 




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