acetyl

American  

[uh-seet-l, uh-set-l, as-i-tl] / əˈsit l, əˈsɛt l, ˈæs ɪ tl /

adjective

Chemistry.

1. containing the acetyl group.

---

acetyl British  

/ ˈæsɪˌtaɪl, əˈsiːtaɪl /

noun

1. (modifier) of, consisting of, or containing the monovalent group CH 3 CO-

   acetyl group or radical

---

acetyl Scientific  

/ ə-sēt′l,ăs′ĭ-tl /

1. The radical CH ₃ CO, derived from acetic acid.

---

Other Word Forms

• acetylic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of acetyl

First recorded in 1860–65; acet- + -yl

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

acetyl

The team discovered that during stress, a protein known as SIRT1 removes acetyl groups from MED1.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 1, 2025

The structures were all pentasaccharides -- made from five saccharides -- but they differed in how they were decorated with amines and acetyl groups.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 24, 2024

Check with her about supplements such as alpha-lipoic acid, benfotiamine and acetyl L-carnitine.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 4, 2023

The synthesis of cholesterol starts with acetyl CoA and proceeds in only one direction.

From Textbooks ● Apr. 25, 2013

They form acetyl esters, or acetates, which can be separated from each other and identified by their crystal forms and melting points.

From The Chemistry of Plant Life by Roscoe Wilfred Thatcher