What does "karate" mean?

An Okinawan martial art involving primarily punching and kicking, but additionally, advanced throws, arm bars, grappling and all means of fighting.

Karate

Common synonyms include: competition karate, discipline, dojo pedagogy, empty-hand combat, fighting art, martial art.

/kəˈɹɑ.ti/ noun, verb, slang

noun, verb, slang ·Moderate ·College level

Noun

1
An Okinawan martial art involving primarily punching and kicking, but additionally, advanced throws, arm bars, grappling and all means of fighting. uncountable
"Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Wall taught karate at a local nursing home."
2
a traditional Japanese system of unarmed combat; sharp blows and kicks are given to pressure-sensitive points on the body of the opponent wordnet

Verb

1
To attack (somebody or something) with karate or similar techniques. informal, transitive

"Karate is an art of unarmed defense."

Borrowed from Japanese 空(から)手(て) (karate), from 唐(から)手(て) (karate), an orthographic borrowing from Okinawan 唐手(とーでぃー) (tōdī, “Chinese hand”).