a brownish-yellow powder or orange-red crystalline solid used as a dye and in the manufacture of other dyes. Formula: C6H4(CO)2C6H2(OH)2
Word origin
C19: probably from French alizarine, probably from Arabic al-’asārah the juice, from ’asara to squeeze
alizarin in American English
(əˈlɪzərɪn)
noun
a reddish-yellow crystalline compound, C6H4(CO)2C6H2(OH)2, produced by oxidizing anthracene and used in dyeing wool, cotton, and silk and in the manufacture of dyestuffs: it was originally made from madder
sometimes called aˈlizarine
Word origin
Ger < Fr & Sp alizari, dried madder root < Ar al ʿuṣāra, the juice < ʿaṣara, to press