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ethyl acetate

American  

noun

Chemistry.
  1. a colorless, volatile, flammable liquid, C 4 H 8 O 2 , having a fragrant, fruitlike odor: used chiefly as a scent in the manufacture of perfumes, flavorings, and confections, and as a solvent for paints, varnishes, and lacquers.


ethyl acetate British  

noun

  1. a colourless volatile flammable fragrant liquid ester, made from acetic acid and ethanol: used in perfumes and flavourings and as a solvent for plastics, etc. Formula: CH 3 COOC 2 H 5

"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

ethyl acetate Scientific  
  1. A colorless, volatile, flammable liquid used as a solvent and in perfumes, lacquers, pharmaceuticals, and rayon. Chemical formula: C 4 H 8 O 2 .


Etymology

Origin of ethyl acetate

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Local media reported that ethyl acetate, a highly flammable chemical compound, was found at the attack sites.

From BBC Mar. 25, 2025

Methylene chloride and ethyl acetate are commonly used in paint stripper, nail polish removers and degreaser.

From Salon Oct. 31, 2023

The researchers used methanol and ethyl acetate to prepare extracts from sunflower stems.

From Science Daily Oct. 25, 2023

Conventional home fragrance products can contain hundreds of chemicals, including phthalates, benzaldehyde, camphor, ethyl acetate, benzyl acetate, musk ketone, benzene, formaldehyde, BHT and acetaldehyde.

From Washington Post Mar. 15, 2023

With sodium ethylate in ethyl acetate solution it forms the sodium derivative of benzoyl acetone, from which benzoyl acetone, C6H5.CO.CH2.CO.CH3, can be obtained by acidification with acetic acid.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg

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