ac·e·tal

[as-i-tal]
noun Chemistry.
1.
Also called diethylacetal. a colorless, volatile, sparingly water-soluble liquid, C 6 H 14 O 2 , having a nutlike aftertaste, obtained from acetaldehyde and ethyl alcohol: used chiefly as a solvent and in the manufacture of perfumes.
2.
any of a class of compounds of aldehydes with alcohols.
Origin:
1850–55; acet- + -al3

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World English Dictionary
acetal (ˈæsɪˌtæl) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  1,1-diethoxyethane; a colourless volatile liquid used as a solvent and in perfumes. Formula: CH3CH(OC2H5)2
2.  any organic compound containing the group -CH(OR1)OR2, where R1 and R2 are other organic groups
 
[C19: from German Azetal, from aceto- + alcohol]

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00:10
Acetal is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

acetal ac·e·tal (ās'ĭ-tāl')
n.

  1. A colorless, flammable, volatile liquid used as a solvent.

  2. Any of the compounds formed from aldehydes combined with alcohol.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Example sentences from the web
Some polymers, however, are sensitive to attack, including acetal resin and polybutene.
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