acetate
1 synonym for acetate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — In chemistry, any salt or ester formed from acetic acid.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
ethanoate
How to use acetate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
sheet of acetate
cellulose acetate
sodium acetate
acetate film
The chemistry sense is technical, while the plastic-sheet sense is used in everyday craft and design contexts.
Etymology
Acetate comes from the Latin word acetum, meaning vinegar, joined with the suffix -ate used for chemical salts and esters. It is related to the Latin verb aceo, to be sour, reflecting vinegar's sharp taste.
Full origin of acetate →Frequently asked questions
What is acetate made of?
Chemically, an acetate is a salt or ester of acetic acid; the material called acetate is usually cellulose acetate, a clear plastic.
What is acetate used for?
It is used to make transparent sheets for overlays and film, and various acetate compounds appear in products such as preservatives and creams.
Is acetate the same as plastic?
Cellulose acetate is one type of plastic, made from a chemical reaction with acetic acid, rather than plastic in general.
