n.
Pronunciation: ' ma-d ə r
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English mædere; akin to Old High German matara madder
Date: before 12th century
1 : a Eurasian herb ( Rubia tinctorum of the family Rubiaceae, the madder family) with whorled leaves and small yellowish panicled flowers succeeded by dark berries broadly : any of several related herbs (genus Rubia )
2 a : the root of the Eurasian madder used formerly in dyeing also : an alizarin dye prepared from it b : a moderate to strong red
madder 1