a reddish-yellow crystalline compound, CH(CO)CH(OH), produced by oxidizing anthracene and used in dyeing wool, cotton, and silk and in the manufacture of dyestuffs: it was originally made from madder: sometimes called
See alizarin in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(ə-lĭzˈər-ĭn) also a·liz·a·rine(-ĭn, -ə-rēnˌ)
noun
An orange-red crystalline compound, C14H6O2(OH)2, used in making dyes.