acrylic

 
Pronunciation: /əˈkrɪlɪk/

adjective

  • (of synthetic resins and textile fibres) made from polymers of acrylic acid or acrylates: a red acrylic jumper
  • (of paint) based on acrylic resin as a medium: acrylic colours

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] an acrylic textile fibre: a sweater in four-ply acrylic
  • 2 (often acrylics) an acrylic paint: she paints mainly in acrylics [mass noun]: washes of white acrylic

Origin:

mid 19th century: from the liquid aldehyde acrolein (from Latin acer, acri- 'pungent' + ol(eum) 'oil' + -in1) + -yl + -ic