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]