anthracite

[ an-thruh-sahyt ]
/ ˈæn θrəˌsaɪt /

noun

a mineral coal containing little of the volatile hydrocarbons and burning almost without flame; hard coal.
Also called anthracite coal.

Origin of anthracite

1810–15; probably < French < Latin (Pliny) anthracītis kind of coal. See anthrac-, -ite1

OTHER WORDS FROM anthracite

an·thra·cit·ic [an-thruh-sit-ik] /ˌæn θrəˈsɪt ɪk/, an·thra·cit·ous [an-thruh-sahy-tuh s] /ˈæn θrəˌsaɪ təs/, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for anthracite

British Dictionary definitions for anthracite

anthracite
/ (ˈænθrəˌsaɪt) /

noun

a hard jet-black coal that burns slowly with a nonluminous flame giving out intense heat. Fixed carbon content: 86–98 per cent; calorific value: 3.14 × 10 7 –3.63 × 10 7 J/kg Also called: hard coal

Derived forms of anthracite

anthracitic (ˌænθrəˈsɪtɪk), adjective

Word Origin for anthracite

C19: from Latin anthracītes type of bloodstone, from Greek anthrakitēs coal-like, from anthrax coal, anthrax

Scientific definitions for anthracite

anthracite
[ ănthrə-sīt′ ]

A hard, shiny coal that has a high carbon content. It is valued as a fuel because it burns with a clean flame and without smoke or odor, but it is much less abundant than bituminous coal. Compare bituminous coal lignite.