noun
acetone
A-suh-tohn
noun
1
A colourless, strong-smelling liquid solvent that evaporates quickly; used to remove nail polish and to thin paints and resins.
"She wiped the nail polish off with a cotton pad soaked in acetone."
"The lab stored the acetone in a sealed metal can because it is so flammable."
How to Use Acetone
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA common solvent chemical, most familiar as the main ingredient in nail polish remover.
Common pairings
pure acetone
acetone fumes
nail polish remover containing acetone
Word Forms
acetones plural
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She wiped the nail polish off with a cotton pad soaked in _____.
Etymology
From "acet-" (linked to vinegar) plus the chemical ending "-one," the same ending found in words like "ketone."