acetate

noun

ac·​e·​tate ˈa-sə-ˌtāt How to pronounce acetate (audio)
1
: a salt or ester of acetic acid
2
: cellulose acetate
also : something (such as a textile fiber) made from cellulose acetate
3
: a phonograph recording disk made of an acetate or coated with cellulose acetate

Examples of acetate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To achieve the film’s look, Back and his assistant, Lina Gagnon, sketched on matte acetate with colored pencils, adding in layers of shading as scenes blend from one to the other, using multiple exposures and no cuts. Jeremy Fassler, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025 Sold by Quince, one of today’s leaders in affordable luxury goods, the watch accessory is made from durable acetate. Claire Sullivan, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019 The frames are made from sustainable biodegradable acetate. Christopher Murray, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2025 Thank skin-loving ingredients like rosehip oil, bisabolol, and vitamin E acetate for that dreamy glide. Annie Blackman, Allure, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for acetate

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French acétate, from (acide) acétique acetic acid + -ate, -ate entry 1

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of acetate was in 1788

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Acetate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acetate. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

acetate

noun
ac·​e·​tate ˈas-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce acetate (audio)
1
: a chemical compound formed by the reaction of acetic acid with another substance
2
: something made from acetate or from cellulose and acetate combined

Medical Definition

acetate

noun
ac·​e·​tate ˈas-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce acetate (audio)
: a salt or ester of acetic acid

More from Merriam-Webster on acetate

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