Definition of "acetate" in English

noun

1. (organic chemistry) Any ester or salt of acetic acid.

2. Cellulose acetate.

3. A transparent sheet used for overlays, whether of cellulose acetate or (loosely) any macroscopically similar plastic.

   • Near-synonym: gel

4. In full acetate disc: a disc of aluminium covered in a wax used to make demonstration copies of a phonograph record.

   • Acetates are a relic of the days before cassettes, DAT, and recordable CDs came into widespread use in recording studios. Manufactured from aluminum, and coated in a thin sheet of vinyl, they were produced to allow the concerned parties to hear how a particular version of a recording would sound outside the studio, on their home hi-fi, for example.