cellulose nitrate

[ sel-yuh-lohs nahy-treyt, ‐trit ]

noun

1. nitrocellulose.

cellulose nitrate

noun

1. a compound made by treating cellulose with nitric and sulphuric acids, used in plastics, lacquers, and explosives: a nitrogen-containing ester of cellulose Also called (not in chemical usage)nitrocellulose See also guncotton

Word History and Origins

Origin of cellulose nitrate¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

The warehouse is owned by the national film institute, Cinemateca, and houses South America’s largest collection of films, some made of cellulose nitrate, a highly flammable material.

From Seattle Times

Ms. Lagana and Dr. Madden immediately identified the plastic as cellulose nitrate, an early material widely used in photography and motion picture film.

From New York Times

The sequins on two dresses are plagued by “inherent vice”—a degradation of cellulose nitrate.

From The New Yorker

We are also working with materials like cellulose nitrate and cellulose acetate, which are contained in archaic film material.

From The Guardian

Thus the cellulose nitrates are the bases of our modern high explosives, as well as those now used for military purposes.

From Project Gutenberg