Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "karas" itace itace mai tsayi, kunkuntar, kayan lambu masu launin lemu wanda ke tsiro a ƙarƙashin ƙasa kuma ana ci da shi ko dafa shi, yawanci a matsayin kayan abinci ko kayan ciye-ciye. Ana kuma amfani da shi a cikin shirye-shiryen dafuwa daban-daban kuma yana da darajar sinadirai masu yawa, musamman a matsayin tushen bitamin A. Hakanan ana iya amfani da kalmar "karas" a misalta don nuni ga lada ko ƙarfafawa da ake amfani da shi don ƙarfafawa ko motsa wani.