acetylate

A1C3E1T1Y4L1A1T1E1

verb

To react with acetic acid or one of its derivatives; to introduce one or more acetyl groups into a substance

Similar
acetylizeacetylise
OriginEnglish acetyl ← Ancient Greek ῡ̔́λη (hū́lē) ← Proto-Indo-European *swel-der.? →
Scrabble 14
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Meanings

verbacetylate (third-person singular simple present acetylates, present participle acetylating, simple past and past participle acetylated)

present singular third person acetylates · participle present acetylating · participle past acetylated · past acetylated

  1. chemistryTo react with acetic acid or one of its derivatives; to introduce one or more acetyl groups into a substance

Synonyms & antonyms

verbreceive substitution of an acetyl group

Similar
acetylizeacetylise
Broader
change

verbintroduce an acetyl group into (a chemical compound)

Similar
acetylizeacetylise
Broader
changealtermodify
Also see
acetylize

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂eḱ-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂eḱéh₁yeti
  3. Proto-Italic*akēō
  4. Latinaceō
  5. Latinacēscō
  6. Latinacētum
  7. Englishaceto-
  8. Englishacet-
  9. Proto-Indo-European*swel-der.?
  10. Ancient Greekῡ̔́λη (hū́lē)
  11. Englishacetyl
  12. Englishacetylate

From acetyl + -ate.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish asetyloida
  • asetyloidaTranslations
Polish acetylować
  • acetylowaćTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

acetylate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acetylate

MLA

“acetylate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acetylate. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “acetylate,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acetylate.

Source: acetylate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.