1. A hydrocarbon obtained from coal tar; it oxidizes to anthraquinone, which is converted to alizarin dyes. SYN: anthracin. 2. A compound containing a. (1) as a part of its structure. [G. anthrax, coal]
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an·thra·cene 'an(t)-thrə-.sēn n a crystalline cyclic hydrocarbon C14H10 obtained from coal-tar distillation
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an·thra·cene (anґthrə-sēn) a colorless crystalline hydrocarbon derived from coal tar and used in the manufacture of anthracene dyes.Medical dictionary. 2011.