English Reference

Word

acetate

Phoneticsac·etate

US/ˈæsəˌteɪt/

UK/ˈæsɪtˌeɪt/

Definitions

01chemical compound

C1 · Science

n. a chemical salt or liquid that comes from acetic acid, which is the acid found in vinegar.

n. any salt or ester of acetic acid. The term is widely used in chemistry to describe compounds formed by the reaction of acetic acid with a base or alcohol.

“The chemist added sodium acetate to the solution to observe the reaction.”

“The laboratory report detailed the synthesis of various ethyl acetate derivatives for use as industrial solvents.”

Technical

Usage

Often used in the names of specific chemical compounds like 'sodium acetate' or 'ethyl acetate'.

Synonyms

ethanoate

02transparent sheet

B2

n. a clear, plastic-like sheet used for drawing or for showing pictures on a screen with an overhead projector.

n. a transparent sheet made of cellulose acetate, historically used for graphic overlays, animation cels, and overhead projector transparencies.

“The teacher wrote the math problems on an acetate sheet so the whole class could see them.”

“Before digital projection became standard, lecturers relied on stacks of printed acetates to illustrate their presentations.”

Usage

Commonly used as a countable noun when referring to the individual sheets.

Synonyms

03fabric or fiber

C1

n. a smooth, shiny man-made fabric that looks like silk, often used for the lining of coats or dresses.

n. a synthetic fiber or fabric made from cellulose acetate, characterized by a silky texture and high luster.

“The jacket has a soft acetate lining that makes it easy to put on.”

“The designer chose an acetate blend for the evening gown to achieve a luxurious drape without the high cost of pure silk.”

Technical

Synonyms

artificial silkrayon

04record disc

C2 · Music

n. a special type of record used to make a quick copy of a song before the final version is produced.

n. a type of phonograph record, typically an aluminium disc coated in nitrocellulose lacquer, used for making reference recordings or demos.

“The band found an old acetate of their first song in the attic.”

“Collectors often pay high prices for rare acetates that contain unreleased studio takes from famous recording sessions.”

Technical

Synonyms

dubplatedemo disc

Real-World Examples

“Another makes acetic anhydride, a key ingredient of aspirin, and the third makes ethyl acetate, which is used as a solvent and for decaffeinating tea and coffee.”
BBC News · 22 Sept 2026

Etymology

Formed from the root of Latin acētum (“vinegar”) + -ate, from aceō (“I am sour”). By surface analysis, acet- + -ate.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference