polymethyl methacrylate
- noun
- /ˌpɒliˈmɛθɪl ˌmɛθəˈkrɪleɪt/
- Specialized
:
polimetilmetacrilato
- They chose polymethyl methacrylate for the display case because it is shatter-resistant.
Examples
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And all it is, is two pieces of polymethyl methacrylate that have been milled and joined.
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"I don't have pure cyanoacrylate; my glue also has polymethyl methacrylate."
Blog text (11) -
This cabinet is made from polymethyl methacrylate, which is much lighter than glass.
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The lenses in these glasses are made of polymethyl methacrylate, offering a clear view without the weight of traditional glass.
Synonyms
9
6.4
A clear, strong plastic used instead of glass
6
6.3
A light clear plastic used instead of glass for windows, displays or shields
1
6.7
A clear, strong plastic like glass that is lighter and does not break easily
Surface Forms
Morphology
polymethyl + methacrylate
The name is chemically compositional: poly- + methyl + methacrylate signals a polymer of methacrylate (i.e. a plastic), so a learner who knows the morphemes can infer it is a kind of synthetic plastic. However, the specific properties in the definition (transparent, lightweight, shatter‑resistant, glass substitute) are technical and not directly predictable from the constituent words alone, so full meaning requires domain knowledge.
Etymology
Polymethyl methacrylate comes from the name parts poly-, which means 'many', and methyl and methacrylate, the small chemical pieces joined into a single plastic. This image of many small parts joined helps explain why it is a clear, light 'plastic' that does not break easily and is used instead of 'glass'.