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.
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 The performance sunglass versions, which use Zeiss lenses, will be priced at roughly double many Cutler & Gross acetate models, but the lightness, strength, and precision of the materials are well worth the investment. Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 7 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 22 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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