phenanthrene: Meaning and Definition of

phe•nan•threne

Pronunciation: (fu-nan'thrēn), [key]
— n. Chem.
  1. a colorless, shiny, crystalline, water-insoluble isomer of anthracene, CH, derived from coal tar: used chiefly in dyestuffs and in the synthesis of drugs.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.