nitrocellulose
noun
ni·tro·cel·lu·lose
ˌnī-trō-ˈsel-yə-ˌlōs 
-ˌlōz
: any of several nitric-acid esters of cellulose used especially for making explosives, plastics, and varnishes
Examples of nitrocellulose in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the Tianjin port, an initial explosion of nitrocellulose led to a much bigger detonation of eight hundred pounds of ammonium nitrate.
—
Hazlitt, 23 Oct. 2024
The sheer fury of his playing over the years tore through the nitrocellulose lacquer on the guitar's body, scratching it down to bare, tortured wood.
—New Atlas, 10 July 2024
China is Russia’s top supplier of machine tools, microelectronics, and nitrocellulose – a highly flammable compound used to make munitions – and Mr. Blinken noted that the U.S. has already sanctioned more than 100 Chinese enterprises.
—Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Apr. 2024
The nitrocellulose — or nitrate — used at the time as a base for filmmaking was quick to decompose and highly flammable; fires were not uncommon.
—Dan Barry, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024
But nitrocellulose was a no-go for a matcha-sipping makeup pro.
—Maura Lynch, Allure, 21 Sep. 2023
The roles of solvent and film former are usually played by alcohol and nitrocellulose, respectively.
—Maura Lynch, Allure, 21 Sep. 2023
Next, Hyatt experimented with nitrocellulose, a material made by combining cotton or wood pulp with a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 26 June 2023
Demand for high-quality nitrocellulose membrane, the off-white fabric that forms the actual lateral flow test strip, has skyrocketed during the pandemic for test kits and its use in other medical devices.
—NBC News, 20 Jan. 2022
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Hazlitt, 23 Oct. 2024
The sheer fury of his playing over the years tore through the nitrocellulose lacquer on the guitar's body, scratching it down to bare, tortured wood.
—New Atlas, 10 July 2024
China is Russia’s top supplier of machine tools, microelectronics, and nitrocellulose – a highly flammable compound used to make munitions – and Mr. Blinken noted that the U.S. has already sanctioned more than 100 Chinese enterprises.
—Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Apr. 2024
The nitrocellulose — or nitrate — used at the time as a base for filmmaking was quick to decompose and highly flammable; fires were not uncommon.
—Dan Barry, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024
But nitrocellulose was a no-go for a matcha-sipping makeup pro.
—Maura Lynch, Allure, 21 Sep. 2023
The roles of solvent and film former are usually played by alcohol and nitrocellulose, respectively.
—Maura Lynch, Allure, 21 Sep. 2023
Next, Hyatt experimented with nitrocellulose, a material made by combining cotton or wood pulp with a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 26 June 2023
Demand for high-quality nitrocellulose membrane, the off-white fabric that forms the actual lateral flow test strip, has skyrocketed during the pandemic for test kits and its use in other medical devices.
—NBC News, 20 Jan. 2022
Dictionary Entries Near nitrocellulose
Cite this Entry
“Nitrocellulose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nitrocellulose. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
nitrocellulose
noun
ni·tro·cel·lu·lose
-ˈsel-yə-ˌlōs, -ˌlōz
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share