Erythrite

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Erythrite \E*ryth"rite\, n. [Gr. 'eryqro`s red.]
     1. (Chem.) A colorless crystalline substance, {C4H6.(OH)4},
        of a sweet, cooling taste, extracted from certain lichens,
        and obtained by the decomposition of erythrin; -- called
        also {erythrol}, {erythroglucin}, {erythromannite},
        {pseudorcin}, {cobalt bloom}, and under the name {phycite}


        obtained from the alga {Protococcus vulgaris}. It is a
        tetrabasic alcohol, corresponding to glycol and glycerin.

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  erythrite
       n : a reddish mineral consisting of hydrated cobalt arsenate in
           monoclinic crystalline form and used in coloring glass;
           usually found in veins bearing cobalt and arsenic [syn: {cobalt
           bloom}]