acetic acid

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, pungent, water-miscible liquid, C 2 H 4 O 2 , the essential constituent of vinegar, produced by oxidation of acetaldehyde, bacterial action on ethyl alcohol, the reaction of methyl alcohol with carbon monoxide, and other processes: used chiefly in the manufacture of acetate fibers and in the production of numerous esters that are solvents and flavoring agents.

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acetic acid British  

noun

1. Systematic name: ethanoic acid.  a colourless pungent liquid, miscible with water, widely used in the manufacture of acetic anhydride, vinyl acetate, plastics, pharmaceuticals, dyes, etc. Formula: CH 3 COOH See also glacial acetic acid vinegar

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acetic acid Scientific  

1. A clear, colorless organic acid having a distinctive pungent odor. It is used as a solvent and in the manufacture of rubber, plastics, acetate fibers, pharmaceuticals, and photographic chemicals. Acetic acid is the chief acid of vinegar. Chemical formula: C ₂ H ₄ O ₂ .

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Etymology

Origin of acetic acid

First recorded in 1800–10

Compare meaning

How does acetic-acid compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• glacial acetic acid vs. acetic acid

Example Sentences

They include companies like Chemours and Tronox, which make titanium dioxide, a pigment used in paint and wallpaper, and Celanese, which produces acetic acid, a key ingredient in many industrial products.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Sixty jobs will go at the Ineos Acetyls site near Hull, which makes products including acetic acid used in manufacturing.

From BBC • Oct. 7, 2025

There is some evidence that apple cider vinegar – and other sources of acetic acid – improves insulin sensitivity so it's possible that there are some benefits for those with this condition.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2024

Now, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Bio Materials treated a chromium-containing MOF with a dose of acetic acid, more concentrated than in vinegar, to expand its pore size and surface area.

From Science Daily • Jan. 26, 2024

This pigment is made by stacking clay pots containing dilute acetic acid and lead buckles, in tiers, and covering them with tan bark.

From Paint Technology and Tests by Gardner, Henry A.