acetate: Meaning and Definition of

ac•e•tate

Pronunciation: (as'i-tāt"), [key]
— n.
  1. a salt or ester of acetic acid.
  2. Also calleda synthetic filament, yarn, or fabric composed of a derivative of the acetic ester of cellulose, differing from viscose rayon in having greater strength when wet and greater sensitivity to high temperatures.
  3. a sheet of clear plastic film fastened over the front of artwork for protection, as an overlay, or the like.
  4. a slow-burning base material, cellulose triacetate, used for motion-picture film to minimize fire hazard during projection, and also for animation cells.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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