polyester

[ pol-ee-es-ter, pol-ee-es-ter ]

noun

1. Chemistry. a polymer in which the monomer units are linked together by the group –COO–, usually formed by polymerizing a polyhydric alcohol with a polybasic acid: used chiefly in the manufacture of resins, plastics, and textile fibers.
2. Also called poly. a fabric made from such textile fibers.

polyester

/ ˌpɒlɪˈɛstə /

noun

1. any of a large class of synthetic materials that are polymers containing recurring -COO- groups: used as plastics, textile fibres, and adhesives

polyester

/ pŏl′ē-ĕs′tər /

1. Any of various mostly synthetic polymers that are light, strong resins resistant to weather and corrosion. Polyesters are long chains of esters and are used to make fibers and plastics. They are thermosetting. Some polyesters, such as suberin, occur naturally.

Other Words From

• pol·y·es·ter·i·fi·ca·tion [pol-ee-es-ter-, uh, -fi-, key, -sh, uh, n], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of polyester¹

First recorded in 1925–30; poly- + ester

Example Sentences

“Traditionally in dyeing fabric, you're steeping the fabric in water at 135 degrees celsius for up to four hours or so – gallons and tons of water. For example, to dye one ton of polyester, you're generating 30 tons of toxic wastewater,” Alchemie founder Dr Alan Hudd tells me.

From BBC

After its test run with polyester in Taiwan, Alchemie is heading next to South Asia and Portugal to test their machines and also try it out on cotton.

From BBC

I bought slippery polyester button-downs and oversize men’s pants at local thrift stores.

From Los Angeles Times

If you thought waterbeds had gone the way of 1970s trends like Troll dolls and polyester pantsuits, you are mostly correct.

From Los Angeles Times

According to Mashed, the bags are a 65% cotton and 35% polyester blend.

From Salon