karat

noun

kar·​at ˈker-ət How to pronounce karat (audio)
ˈka-rət
variants or carat
: a unit of fineness for gold equal to ¹/₂₄ part of pure gold in an alloy

Examples of karat in a Sentence

She was wearing an 18 karat gold bracelet. Pure gold is 24 karats.
Recent Examples on the Web The black-lacquered dial of the new Boyfriend Couture is decorated with a sewing pattern for a tweed jacket, complete with diamond buttons, while its bezel is adorned with an 18 karat gold chain — just the right balance of playful and chic. Sarah Royce-Greensill, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024 The show displays his handmade, clay sculptures replete with rich Central American motifs, pop culture references and 22 karat gold accents. Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, Robinhood is also offering a limited edition version of the card that’s made of 10 karat gold and weighs more than twice a typical card to those who sign up 10 others for the product. Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2024 The Crystalline Crystal Quartz Diamond Necklace sees a clear crystal quartz hand set in 14 karat yellow gold on Italian gold chain. Angela Lei, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 Depending on the design and karat, gold jewelry can get expensive. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 26 Sep. 2023 The watch is powered by an automatic movement with a 45-hour power reserve, and comes in 18 karat rose gold case and integrated bracelet. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 3 Nov. 2023 The umbrella is not only made with 6.83 karat diamonds but with white gold and dark wood at the handle. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 29 Sep. 2023 At Isabelle Subra Woolworth’s beautiful antique jewelry gallery, Bidermann falls for a 19th century spider brooch, and I am enthralled by a dazzling 18 karat gold chain that closes with an enameled barrel locket. Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'karat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English carrat — more at carat

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of karat was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near karat

Cite this Entry

“Karat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/karat. Accessed 5 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

karat

noun
kar·​at
variants or carat
ˈkar-ət
: a unit of fineness for gold equal to ¹⁄₂₄ part of pure gold in a blend with one or more other metals

More from Merriam-Webster on karat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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