n.1 a salt or ester of acetic acid, esp. the cellulose ester used to make textiles, gramophone records, etc. Also called ETHANOATE.
2 a fabric made from cellulose acetate.
Phrases and idioms:
acetate fibre (or silk) fibre (or silk) made artificially from cellulose acetate.
Etymology: ACETIC + -ATE(1) 2