Definition

A bright orange-red substance that is used to make dyes and pigments. It was originally made from a plant called madder but is now often produced in a lab.

Example

Alizarin is commonly used in the textile industry to produce vibrant red colors.

Conversation

Have you ever worked with alizarin dye for your art projects?

No, I haven't tried it yet, but I've heard it's really vibrant.

Yeah, it gives such a rich color to fabrics and paintings.

I should definitely look into it for my next piece!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Alizarin is derived from the Arabic word "al-‘izar" (meaning the dye) and the Persian "zar" (meaning gold). The term refers to a red dye originally obtained from the madder plant, which was valued for its rich color, akin to gold in its desirability.

Memory Tip

Think of the Arabic word for dye ('al-‘izar') and the Persian word for gold ('zar') to remember that alizarin is a valuable dye known for its rich red color.

Visually Confused Words