n. (Chem.) (a) An orange-red dyestuff extracted from the saffron. [ R. ] (b) A red dyestuff extracted from the safflower, and formerly used in dyeing wool, silk, and cotton pink and scarlet; -- called also Spanish red, China lake, and carthamin. (c) An orange-red dyestuff prepared from certain nitro compounds of creosol, and used as a substitute for the safflower dye. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ So called because used as a substitute for safranin. ] (Chem.) An orange-red nitrogenous dyestuff produced artificially by oxidizing certain aniline derivatives, and used in dyeing silk and wool; also, any one of the series of which safranine proper is the type. [ 1913 Webster ]