acetate

noun

ac·​e·​tate ˈa-sə-ˌtāt 

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

He was injected with the three-drug mix of an anesthetic, a paralytic and potassium acetate, which stops the heart. —Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026

This led directly to the first therapeutic for multiple sclerosis, a treatment called glatiramer acetate or Copaxone in the early 1990s. —Marcy Thompson, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2026

These frames will be made from acetate, not plastic, Gurman adds, noting that acetate offers greater durability and a more luxury appeal. —Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 13 Apr. 2026

The photography technology company was in the process of shutting down its acetate factory, which makes one of the key ingredients used in film. —Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2026

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

Phrases Containing acetate

• amyl acetate
• cellulose acetate
• ethyl acetate
• lead acetate
• medroxyprogesterone acetate
• methyl acetate
• polyvinyl acetate

Rhymes for acetate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

acetate

noun

ac·​e·​tate ˈas-ə-ˌtāt 

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 

: a salt or ester of acetic acid