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alizarin

Syllabification: (a·liz·a·rin)
Pronunciation: /əˈlizərin/
Definition of alizarin

noun

Chemistry
  • a red pigment present in madder root, used in dyeing.
    • Alternative name: 1,2-dihydroxyanthraquinone; chemical formula: C14H8O4
  • [as modifier] denoting dyes derived from or similar to alizarin:alizarin crimson

Origin:

mid 19th century: from French alizarine, from alizari 'madder', from Arabic al-῾iṣāra 'pressed juice', from ῾aṣara 'to press fruit'

alizarin in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of alizarin in the British & World English dictionary

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