n.
Pronunciation: ˌ ma-d ə - ' gas-k ə r, -kär
Function: geographical name
island W Indian Ocean off SE Africa; formerly a French territory; became (1958) a republic of the French Community as the Mal · a · gasy Republic \ ˌ ma-l ə - ' ga-s ē \ or F Ré · pu · blique Mal · gache \ r ā -p - ' bl ē k-mäl- ' gäsh \ ; name changed to Madagascar 1975 capital Antananarivo area 226,657 sq mi (589,308 sq km ), pop 16,694,272
– Mad · a · gas · can \ ˌ ma-d ə - ' gas-k ə n \ adjective or noun