nitrocellulose

American  

[nahy-truh-sel-yuh-lohs] / ˌnaɪ trəˈsɛl jəˌloʊs /

noun

Chemistry.

1. any of a group of nitric esters of cellulose, used in the manufacture of lacquers and explosives: used as a film base in the early days of filmmaking, nitrocellulose is now a common component of multilayered film structures, especially cellophane.

---

nitrocellulose British  

/ ˌnaɪtrəʊˈsɛljʊˌləʊs /

noun

1. another name (not in chemical usage) for cellulose nitrate

---

nitrocellulose Scientific  

/ nī′trō-sĕl′yə-lōs′ /

1. A pulpy or cottonlike polymer derived from cellulose treated with sulfuric and nitric acids. It is used in the manufacture of explosives, plastics, and solid propellants.

---

Other Word Forms

• nitrocellulosic
  adjective
• nitrocellulous
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of nitrocellulose

First recorded in 1880–85; nitro- + cellulose

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nitrocellulose

While building steel warheads and tanks takes time, ramping up production of nitrocellulose is even trickier.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

Included in Wednesday’s sanctions announcement are importers of cotton cellulose and nitrocellulose — used to produce gunpowder, rocket propellants and other explosives.

From Seattle Times ● May 1, 2024

In Frederick, Ellume is sourcing nitrocellulose strips from India, said Parsons, the Ellume chief executive.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 1, 2022

According to filmmaker Paul Mothersole, who has studied the tragedy for 15 years, the film operator spotted a reel of nitrocellulose film which had begun to smoulder.

From BBC ● Dec. 30, 2019

The chloride of calcium, it is thought possible, produces a direct combination of the alcohol with a reactive group of the nitrocellulose.

From Researches on Cellulose 1895-1900 by Cross, C. F.