alizarin

[ uh-liz-er-in ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a solid appearing reddish-orange as crystals and brownish-yellow as powder, C 14 H 8 O 4 , one of the earliest known dyes, formerly obtained in its natural state from madder and now derived from anthraquinone: used chiefly in the synthesis of other dyes.

alizarin

/ əˈlɪzərɪn /

noun

1. a brownish-yellow powder or orange-red crystalline solid used as a dye and in the manufacture of other dyes. Formula: C 6 H 4 (CO) 2 C 6 H 2 (OH) 2

Word History and Origins

Origin of alizarin¹

1825–35; < French alizarine, equivalent to alizar ( i ) (< Spanish < Arabic al the + ʿaṣārah juice) + -ine -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of alizarin¹

C19: probably from French alizarine, probably from Arabic al-’asārah the juice, from ’asara to squeeze

Example Sentences

In Britain and Germany, the most prolific consultants were chemists, because of their essential expertise in new products such as acids, soaps, paints and especially synthetic dyes, including mauve and alizarin.

From Nature

Welcome aboard to Last Legs members, Alizarin Crimson members—alizarin crimson is basically a red color—and parents travelling with small children who have not been abandoned at another gate during a psychotic break.

From The New Yorker

Another related ruby dye, used since ancient times, was alizarin, originally isolated from the madder plant.

From Scientific American

Its chief use is in the artificial production of alizarin.

From Project Gutenberg

Madder was formerly the most important and highly valued of the dye-stuffs of this class, being especially employed to produce the fine 'Turkey-red' dye; but it is now entirely superseded by the coal-tar colour alizarin.

From Project Gutenberg