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.
Other examples include iron oxides — which add color to makeup and are sun- and blue light-protective — and tocopheryl acetate, a synthetic form of vitamin E that protects skin from free radicals. Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025 Featuring four deliciously unusual frames cast in robust Takiron acetate, which comes from Osaka, the collection is evocative of a certain House of Lords flair—restrained but curiously powerful. Air Mail, 11 Oct. 2025 Across the show, floor buyers reported a mix of trends — thick acetate is still a standard, punctuated with moments of color with greens, reds and blues as strongest, but silver metal frames and rimless options have emerged as a counterpoint to acetate. Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025 Matte Firm Hold and Seto Kaiba Natural Shine Firm Hold ($28 each) — as well as a $99 luxe travel case complete with a waterproof exterior, acetate comb and your choice of paste. Brittany Talarico, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 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 Oct. 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

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