acetate

UK: /ˈæsɪteɪt/ US: /ˈæsɪˌteɪt/ ,(as′i tāt′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ac•e•tate /ˈæsɪˌteɪt/   n. [uncountable]

1. Chemistry, Textiles a synthetic material used to make cloth.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ac•e•tate  (as′i tāt′), n. 

1. Chemistry a salt or ester of acetic acid.
2. Chemistry, Textiles Also called ac′etate ray′on. a synthetic filament, yarn, or fabric composed of a derivative of the acetic ester of cellulose, differing from viscose rayon in having greater strength when wet and greater sensitivity to high temperatures.
3. Fine Art a sheet of clear plastic film fastened over the front of artwork for protection, as an overlay, or the like.
4. Cinema a slow-burning base material, cellulose triacetate, used for motion-picture film to minimize fire hazard during projection, and also for animation cells.

• acet- + -ate² 1820–30

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

acetate / ˈæsɪˌteɪt/ noun

1. any salt or ester of acetic acid, containing the monovalent ion CH₃COO^– or the group CH₃COO-
   Systematic name: ethanoate
2. short for acetate rayon, cellulose acetate
3. a sound recording disc composed of an acetate lacquer coating on an aluminium or plastic base: used for demonstration or other short-term purposes

Etymology: 19th Century: from acetic + -ate¹