ENGLISH
REFERENCE

acetone

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US //ˈæsəˌtoʊn// UK //ˈæsɪtˌəʊn// ace·tone

n. a clear, colorless liquid with a strong smell. You often use it to clean your nails or remove paint because it dissolves things easily.

n. a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid ketone with a pungent odor. It is a common solvent used in nail polish removers, paint thinners, and industrial cleaning agents.


SIMPLE

She used acetone to remove the old nail polish.

CONTEXTUAL

The technician used a small amount of acetone to clean the glassware before the experiment began.

COMPLEX

While acetone is a highly effective solvent for many plastics and resins, its volatility and flammability require strict safety protocols in laboratory and industrial environments.

Synonyms
Origin

From acet- from acētum (“vinegar”). The -one was taken from margarone but further etymology is unclear. Doublet of ketone.

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