acetone

noun

ac·​e·​tone ˈa-sə-ˌtōn 

: a volatile fragrant flammable liquid ketone C₃H₆O used chiefly as a solvent and in organic synthesis and found in abnormal quantities in diabetic urine

acetonic

ˌa-sə-ˈtä-nik 

adjective

Examples of acetone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Only soak your fingertips (rather than your whole hand) in acetone to remove polish. —Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Seeking to improve upon diabetes testing, the Penn State researchers decided to focus on markers of the disease in the breath, specifically targeting acetone. —New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2025

To solve this, the team added a special membrane that blocked water molecules but let acetone pass through. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Aug. 2025

Throw it out when the liquid gets wispy (molding) or starts to smell like acetone (fermenting). —Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 28 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French acétone, from (esprit pyro-)acétique, literally, "pyro-acetic spirit," an earlier name for acetone + -one -one

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for acetone

• anglophone
• baritone
• bourguignon
• buspirone
• chaperon
• chaperone
• cobblestone
• collarbone
• cornerstone
• cortisone
• dictaphone
• dithizone

Kids Definition

acetone

noun

ac·​e·​tone ˈas-ə-ˌtōn 

: an easily evaporated fragrant flammable liquid compound used chiefly to dissolve or to make chemical compounds

Medical Definition

acetone

noun

ac·​e·​tone ˈas-ə-ˌtōn 

: a volatile fragrant flammable liquid ketone C₃H₆O used chiefly as a solvent and in organic synthesis and found in abnormal quantities in diabetic urine

called also propanone

acetonic

ˌas-ə-ˈtän-ik 

adjective