Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Anthracene \An"thra*cene\, n. [Gr. ? coal.] (Chem.)
   A solid hydrocarbon, {C6H4.C2H2.C6H4}, which accompanies
   naphthalene in the last stages of the distillation of coal
   tar. Its chief use is in the artificial production of
   alizarin. [Written also {anthracin}.]