A terephthalate is a salt or ester of terephthalic acid, a rigid aromatic dicarboxylic acid used in making polymers such as PET. The term denotes the chemical compound family formed when terephthalic acid’s carboxyl groups are replaced by alkyl or aryl groups. In practice, it appears in polymer names and formulations, especially plastics and fibers. The pronunciation often follows chemical naming conventions rather than everyday vocabulary.
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