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adj Uncommon

acrylic

uh-KRIHL-ihk

Acrylic (adj) means Made from a synthetic resin or fiber derived from acrylic acid. Example: “She painted the mural using acrylic paint.”

adj
1
Made from a synthetic resin or fiber derived from acrylic acid.
"She painted the mural using acrylic paint."
noun
1
A synthetic resin, fiber, or paint used in art, textiles, or plastics.
"The window was fitted with acrylic instead of glass."
"He prefers acrylics over oil paints because they dry faster."

How to use acrylic

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA man-made material — plastic, fiber, or paint — based on acrylic acid, often used as a lighter or cheaper substitute for glass, wool, or oil paint.

Common pairings
acrylic paint acrylic sheet acrylic nails

Word forms

acrylics plural

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Test yourself on “acrylic” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She painted the mural using _____ paint.

Etymology

From "acryl" (from acrolein, itself from Latin acer, "sharp," and olere, "to smell") plus the adjective suffix -ic.

Origin: Latin

acrylic fiber acrylic resin acrylic paint acrylate resin

Frequently asked questions

What does “acrylic” mean?

The word “acrylic” means made from a synthetic resin or fiber derived from acrylic acid. In plain terms, a man-made material — plastic, fiber, or paint — based on acrylic acid, often used as a lighter or cheaper substitute for glass, wool, or oil paint.

How do you pronounce “acrylic”?

“Acrylic” is pronounced uh-KRIHL-ihk (/əˈkɹɪl.ɪk/ in IPA).

How do you use “acrylic” in a sentence?

Here is “acrylic” used in a sentence: “She painted the mural using acrylic paint.”

What part of speech is “acrylic”?

Depending on how it is used, “acrylic” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “acrylic” come from?

The word “acrylic” comes from Latin. From "acryl" (from acrolein, itself from Latin acer, "sharp," and olere, "to smell") plus the adjective suffix -ic.

Is “acrylic” a common word?

“Acrylic” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “acrylic” have?

“Acrylic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: made from a synthetic resin or fiber derived from acrylic acid.

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