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carat

carat

noun kah-RAH Rare

Origin: From Arabic qīrāṭ, via medieval Latin carratus.

Usage Note

Carat measures the purity of gold (24 carats = pure gold) or the weight of gemstones (1 carat = 0.2 g). In French jewellery, or 18 carats is the most common standard for fine jewellery. The final t is silent.

Examples

"Cette bague est en or dix-huit carats."

Natural Translation

This ring is in eighteen-carat gold.

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