Acetate is a shiny artificial material, sometimes used for making clothes or records. C2H3O2^- ion, a salt, ester, or acylal derived from acetic acid. Acetates are important in the biochemical synthesis of fats from carbohydrates in plants and animals. Industrially, metal acetates are used in printing, vinyl acetate in plastic production, cellulose acetate in photographic films and textiles (one of the first synthetic fibres, often called simply acetate), and volatile organic esters as solvents
A salt formed by the union of acetic acid with a base or positive radical; as, acetate of lead, acetate of potash
{i} salt or ester of acetic acid (Chemistry); fabric made of acetate fibers; sheet of clear plastic film; phonographic disk made of or coated with acetate; fire-resistant material used as the base for film