hemiacetal

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noun

Any of a class of compounds of general formula R₁R₂C(OH)OR' (where R' is not H and R₁ or R₂ is often hydrogen).

OriginEnglish acetal ← Ancient Greek ἡμῐ- (hēmĭ-) ← Proto-Hellenic [Term?] →
Scrabble 17
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Meanings

nounhemiacetal (plural hemiacetals)

plural hemiacetals

  1. chemistryAny of a class of compounds of general formula R₁R₂C(OH)OR' (where R' is not H and R₁ or R₂ is often hydrogen).

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*sem-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*sēmi
  3. Proto-Hellenic[Term?]
  4. Ancient Greekἡμῐ- (hēmĭ-)
  5. Englishhemi-
  6. Englishacetal
  7. Englishhemiacetal

From hemi- + acetal.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

hemiacetal. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hemiacetal

MLA

“hemiacetal.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hemiacetal. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hemiacetal,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hemiacetal.

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