cellulose nitrate

[sel-yuh-lohs nahy-treyt, ‐trit]

noun

1. nitrocellulose.

cellulose nitrate

noun

1. Also called (not in chemical usage): nitrocellulose. a compound made by treating cellulose with nitric and sulphuric acids, used in plastics, lacquers, and explosives: a nitrogen-containing ester of cellulose See also guncotton

Word History and Origins

Origin of cellulose nitrate¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

The warehouse is owned by the national film institute, Cinemateca, and houses South America’s largest collection of films, some made of cellulose nitrate, a highly flammable material.

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Ms. Lagana and Dr. Madden immediately identified the plastic as cellulose nitrate, an early material widely used in photography and motion picture film.

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The sequins on two dresses are plagued by “inherent vice”—a degradation of cellulose nitrate.

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We are also working with materials like cellulose nitrate and cellulose acetate, which are contained in archaic film material.

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Thus the cellulose nitrates are the bases of our modern high explosives, as well as those now used for military purposes.

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