1. A red or purple dye obtained from the madder plant or synthesized chemically, historically used in textiles and now in cosmetics and pigments.
Usage: Also spelled alizarin.; Chemistry/textile industry term.

Examples

• The textile factory used alizarine to dye the fabric a deep crimson.
• Alizarine was one of the first synthetic dyes produced on an industrial scale.
• The artist mixed alizarine with other pigments to create a rich burgundy color.
• Medieval dyers extracted alizarine from madder roots to color wool and linen.
• Modern cosmetics sometimes include alizarine as a natural-looking red colorant.