Word
acetic
US/əˈsɛtɪk/
UK/ɐsˈiːtɪk/
Definition
adj. having to do with vinegar or the sour acid that makes vinegar sharp. The word appears mostly in the phrase acetic acid.
adj. relating to vinegar or to acetic acid, the colourless organic acid responsible for vinegar's sour taste and pungent smell. Typically encountered in chemistry and food science in the collocation 'acetic acid'.
Examples
“Vinegar gets its sharp taste from acetic acid.”
“The label shows the vinegar contains five percent acetic acid for cooking.”
“The chemist measures the acetic strength of the solution to check if fermentation produced enough acid.”
Examples
simple
“Vinegar gets its sharp taste from acetic acid.”
contextual
“The label shows the vinegar contains five percent acetic acid for cooking.”
complex
“The chemist measures the acetic strength of the solution to check if fermentation produced enough acid.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “acetic” in context.
Verb
01. acetic acid corrodes
“Concentrated acetic acid corrodes metal and irritates skin.”
noun phrase + verb
02. acetic acid irritates
“Acetic acid irritates the eyes, nose and throat.”
noun phrase + verb
03. contain acetic acid
“Household vinegar typically contains about 5% acetic acid.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
04. acetic acid
“Vinegar gets its sharp taste from acetic acid.”
adj + noun
05. acetic anhydride
“Acetic anhydride is widely used to make aspirin and plastics.”
adj + noun
06. acetic fermentation
“Acetic fermentation turns ethanol into vinegar in the presence of air.”
adj + noun
07. acetic taste
“The wine had developed an unpleasant acetic taste.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. acetic acid solution
“The lab prepared a dilute acetic acid solution for testing.”
adj + noun + noun
09. acetic acid vapour
“Inhaling acetic acid vapour can irritate the respiratory tract.”
adj + noun + noun
10. a solution of acetic acid
“They prepared a solution of acetic acid for the experiment.”
11. concentrated acetic acid
“Concentrated acetic acid requires gloves, goggles and ventilation.”
12. dilute acetic acid
“The technician rinsed the equipment with dilute acetic acid.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun, almost always in the phrase 'acetic acid'.
Real-World Examples
“For deeper cleansing use a dash of vinegar, as acetic acid is a good disinfectant.” Etymology
From French acétique, from Latin acētum (“vinegar”), from acēre (“to be sour”). By surface analysis, acet- + -ic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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