qarat

Qarat, sometimes spelled qarāt or qarāṭ, is a term with several uses in Arabic-speaking contexts. It most often appears as a transliteration variant of carat, the unit used to express the weight of gemstones. One carat equals 200 milligrams. The word carat is closely related to karat, the term used for gold fineness in many countries, but karat denotes purity rather than weight.

Qarat also appears as a toponym in the Arab world and adjacent regions. In place names, the element is common enough that it may indicate a geographic feature or historical naming conventions; the precise meaning varies by locality and language.

In some communities, qarat is used as a personal name or surname, reflecting linguistic and cultural heritage.

Because the term spans different languages and traditions, its meaning must be inferred from context. In gemology, qarat likely refers to weight; in geography or on a map, it points to a place; in onomastics, it may identify a person. When encountering qarat in text, identifying surrounding cues such as language, currency, or geographical references helps determine the intended sense.