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methacrylate

American

[meth-ak-ruh-leyt] / mɛθˈæk rəˌleɪt /

noun

Chemistry.

an ester or salt derived from methacrylic acid.

methacrylate British

/ mɛθˈækrɪˌleɪt /

noun

any ester of methacrylic acid
See methacrylate resin

"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

methacrylate Scientific

/ mĕth-ăk′rə-lāt′ /

An ester of methacrylic acid, having the general formula C ₄ H ₃ O ₂ R, where R is an organic radical. Methacrylates are used in the manufacture of plastics.
A resin derived from methacrylic acid.

Etymology

Origin of methacrylate

First recorded in 1860–65; meth- + acryl(ic) + -ate ²

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:

methacrylate

The compromised tank threatened to blow up, affecting adjacent tanks also containing the toxic chemical methyl methacrylate which could have caused a large-scale public safety emergency.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026

The tank contained 7,000 gallons of the highly reactive liquid chemical known as methyl methacrylate, or MMA, which can be used to make materials such as Plexiglass.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026

Methyl methacrylate is used to make resins and plastics.

From BBC ● May 25, 2026

The EPA says methyl methacrylate is irritating to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes in humans.

From Barron's ● May 24, 2026

The crystal ball measures one inch in diameter and is actually made of genuine methacrylate which is crystal clear.

From A Practical Guide to Self-Hypnosis by Powers, Melvin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023