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acetic acid
noun
ace·tic acid
ə-ˈsē-tik-
: a colorless pungent liquid acid C2H4O2 that is the chief acid of vinegar and that is used especially in synthesis (as of plastics)
Examples of acetic acid in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the case of ethanol, this process makes acetaldehyde—a toxic chemical—and then acetate, or acetic acid, the acid found in vinegar.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
And as people seek more eco-friendly (and cheaper) products, the versatile pantry staple, which contains acetic acid and water, is gaining even more traction.
—Stacey Colino, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024
The carb is pressed into liquid-form and fermented by yeast into alcohol, which is then fermented into acetic acid.
—Matt Fuchs, TIME, 16 Oct. 2024
Vinegars with higher acetic acid levels are more powerful cleaning agents than vinegars with less acetic acid.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2024
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Word History
Etymology
acetic borrowed from French acétique, from Latin acētum "sour wine, vinegar" (noun derivative from *acētus, verbal adjective of acēre "to be sour," going back to Indo-European h2eḱ-eh1- "to be sharp") + French -ique -ic entry 1 — more at edge entry 1
First Known Use
1788, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near acetic acid
Cite this Entry
“Acetic acid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acetic%20acid. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
acetic acid
noun
: a colorless strong-smelling liquid acid that gives the sour taste to vinegar and that is used especially in making chemical compounds (as plastics)
Medical Definition
acetic acid
noun
: a colorless pungent liquid acid C2H4O2 that is the chief acid of vinegar and that is used especially in synthesis (as of plastics) and occasionally in medicine as an astringent and styptic
More from Merriam-Webster on acetic acid
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about acetic acid
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