fə̇ˈnanˌthrēn noun
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary phen- + -anthrene; probably originally formed as German phenanthren
: a crystalline tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbon C 14 H 10 that is isomeric with anthracene, that is obtained chiefly from the anthracene oil fraction of coal tar and is also made synthetically, and that provides the ring system in whole or in part for many complex naturally occurring compounds (as resin acids, morphine, codeine, steroids) — compare structural formula