terephthalate
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of terephthalate
First recorded in 1865–70; terephthal(ic acid) + -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.
"Common plastics include polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate or PET. The majority of these microplastics are cleared from our bodies, however studies show they do accumulate in our organs, including our brains."
From Science Daily • Mar. 13, 2026
A series of chemical processes then transform those fossil fuels into Polyethylene terephthalate -- or PET -- which the bottle is made from.
From Barron's • Jan. 26, 2026
PET, or polyethylene terephthalate, is a type of clear plastic that is commonly used for single-use water bottles.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2024
In April, researchers from the University of Texas found an enzyme which could digest polyethylene terephthalate, a plastic resin found in clothes, liquid and food containers.
From Washington Post • Jun. 17, 2022
They specifically found that there is an enzyme which targets polyethylene terephthalate after finding bacteria "eating" bottles outside of an Osaka, Japan plant.
From Salon • Jun. 11, 2022
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
