acetic acid

noun

ace·​tic acid ə-ˈsē-tik- 

: a colorless pungent liquid acid C₂H₄O₂ that is the chief acid of vinegar and that is used especially in synthesis (as of plastics)

Examples of acetic acid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Amid the chaotic artwork, Curran and her colleagues detected the presence of acetic acid, one of those corrosive gases that can hurt nearby materials. —Sarah Everts, Scientific American, 1 Apr. 2016

Making apple cider vinegar leads to the formation of acetic acid. —Elizabeth Barnes, Verywell Health, 24 May 2024

The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar may help lower blood sugar. —Elizabeth Barnes, Verywell Health, 24 May 2024

And as people seek more eco-friendly (and cheaper) products, the versatile pantry staple, which contains acetic acid and water, is gaining even more traction. —Stacey Colino, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

acetic borrowed from French acétique, from Latin acētum "sour wine, vinegar" (noun derivative from *acētus, verbal adjective of acēre "to be sour," going back to Indo-European h₂eḱ-eh₁- "to be sharp") + French -ique -ic entry 1 — more at edge entry 1

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

acetic acid

noun

: a colorless strong-smelling liquid acid that gives the sour taste to vinegar and that is used especially in making chemical compounds (as plastics)

Medical Definition

acetic acid

noun

: a colorless pungent liquid acid C₂H₄O₂ that is the chief acid of vinegar and that is used especially in synthesis (as of plastics) and occasionally in medicine as an astringent and styptic