polyvinyl acetate

noun

variants or less commonly polyvinylacetate

ˌpä-lē-ˌvī-nᵊl-ˈa-sə-ˌtāt 

: a synthetic polymer that has the chemical structure H(CH₂CHOOCCH₃)_nH and that is used especially in adhesives, coatings for paper and textiles, and in the production of polyvinyl alcohol

With a sponge brush apply a thin coat of polyvinyl acetate glue to the front of each heart and sprinkle with glitter …

—Kathie Sutin

He said the fossil was coated in a thin layer of polyvinyl acetate, or liquid plastic, to solidify it during excavation.

—Maggie Brown

called also PVA

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined above