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acetate

[as-i-teyt]
noun
  1. Chemistry. a salt or ester of acetic acid.
  2. Also called acetate rayon. 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. a sheet of clear plastic film fastened over the front of artwork for protection, as an overlay, or the like.
  4. a slow-burning base material, cellulose triacetate, used for motion-picture film to minimize fire hazard during projection, and also for animation cells.
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Origin of acetate

First recorded in 1820–30; acet- + -ate2
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for acetate-rayon

acetate

noun
  1. any salt or ester of acetic acid, containing the monovalent ion CH 3 COO – or the group CH 3 COO-Systematic name: ethanoate
  2. (modifier) consisting of, containing, or concerned with the group CH 3 COO-acetate group or radical
  3. short for acetate rayon, cellulose acetate
  4. a sound recording disc composed of an acetate lacquer coating on an aluminium or plastic base: used for demonstration or other short-term purposes
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Derived Formsacetated, adjective

Word Origin

C19: from acetic + -ate 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for acetate-rayon

acetate

n.

1827, "salt formed by combining acetic acid with a base," from Latin acetum "vinegar" (see acetic) + chemical suffix -ate (3). As a type of synthetic material, it is attested from 1920, short for acetate silk, etc.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
acetate-rayon in Medicine

acetate

(ăs′ĭ-tāt′)
n.
  1. A salt or ester of acetic acid containing the radical group CH3COO.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
acetate-rayon in Science

acetate

[ăs′ĭ-tāt′]
  1. A salt or ester of acetic acid. Salts of acetic acid contain a metal attached to the acetic acid radical CH3COO. Esters contain another radical, such as ethyl, attached to the acetic acid radical.
  2. Cellulose acetate or a product made from it, especially fibers or film.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.