1. A chemical group or radical (CH₃CO−) derived from acetic acid, commonly found in organic compounds and used in chemistry and biochemistry.
Usage: technical; chemistry

Examples

• Acetyl groups are essential components in many biological molecules.
• The acetyl radical plays a key role in the citric acid cycle.
• Aspirin contains an acetyl group that gives it its therapeutic properties.
• Acetyl-CoA is a crucial intermediate in cellular metabolism.
• The acetyl functional group is widely used in organic synthesis.