Anthracene \An"thra*cene\, n. [Gr. 'a`nqrax coal.] (Chem.) A solid hydrocarbon, {C6H4.C2H2.C6H4}, which accompanies naphthalene in the last stages of the distillation of coal tar. Its chief use is in the artificial production of alizarin. [Written also {anthracin}.] [1913 Webster]