anthracite

[ an-thruh-sahyt ]

noun

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

anthracite

/ ˈænθrəˌsaɪt; ˌænθrəˈsɪtɪk /

noun

1. 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 ⁷J/kg Also calledhard coal

anthracite

/ ăn′thrə-sīt′ /

1. 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.
2. Compare bituminous coal

Derived Forms

• anthracitic, adjective

Other Words From

• an·thra·cit·ic [an-thr, uh, -, sit, -ik], an·thra·cit·ous [an, -thr, uh, -sahy-t, uh, s], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of anthracite¹

1810–15; probably < French < Latin (Pliny) anthracītis kind of coal. See anthrac-, -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of anthracite¹

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

Example Sentences

When pure and of close hard grain it is used as a refractory for lining furnaces, especially those designed for anthracite.

From Project Gutenberg

There are four types: bituminous (soft), anthracite (hard), semi-bituminous and semi-anthracite.

From Project Gutenberg

Tried at a measured mile with anthracite and Merthyr coal mixed, three years afterwards, her average speed was 11 knots.

From Project Gutenberg

He was of middle age, black as anthracite coal, bald-headed, (p. 226) and was dressed in pants and coat made of old sailcloth.

From Project Gutenberg

The cooking-range, a large one designed to burn anthracite coal, was the general warming apparatus.

From Project Gutenberg