terephthalate

American  

[ter-ef-thal-eyt, -it, tuh-ref-thuh-leyt] / ˌtɛr ɛfˈθæl eɪt, -ɪt, təˈrɛf θəˌleɪt /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a salt or ester of terephthalic acid.

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Etymology

Origin of terephthalate

First recorded in 1865–70; terephthal(ic acid) + -ate ²

Example Sentences

"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

A series of chemical processes then transform those fossil fuels into Polyethylene terephthalate -- or PET -- which the bottle is made from.

From Barron's

To better understand how light affects plastic breakdown, the researchers exposed polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid, and polybutylene adipate co terephthalate microplastics to water under both dark and ultraviolet conditions for up to 96 hours.

From Science Daily

The book series draws its name, by the way, from the recording tape upon which the group imprinted their masterworks, those “ribbons of rust”—iron oxide bonded to polyethylene terephthalate.

From Salon

To their surprise, most of the particles were not polyethylene terephthalate, or PET — the material most water bottles are made of.

From Salon