carat

/ˈkɛrət/
noun
  1. A unit of weight used for gemstones, equal to 200 milligrams.
    • The diamond in her engagement ring weighs one carat.
    • A 2-carat ruby can be very expensive.
    • Jewelers measure small gems in carats to determine their value.
  2. A unit of purity for gold, equal to 1/24 part of pure gold in an alloy (often spelled 'karat' in the US).
    • Pure gold is 24 carats, but it is too soft for most jewelry.
    • This necklace is made of 18-carat gold.
    • The ring is stamped with '14K' to show it is 14 carats of gold.
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