madder
1 Americannoun
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any plant of the genus Rubia, especially the climbing R. tinctorum, of Europe, having open clusters of small, yellowish flowers.
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the root of this plant, formerly used in dyeing.
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the dye or coloring matter itself.
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a color produced by such a dye.
adjective
noun
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any of several rubiaceous plants of the genus Rubia, esp the Eurasian R. tinctoria, which has small yellow flowers and a red fleshy root
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the root of this plant
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a dark reddish-purple dye formerly obtained by fermentation of this root; identical to the synthetic dye, alizarin
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a red lake obtained from alizarin and an inorganic base; used as a pigment in inks and paints
adjective
Etymology
Origin of madder
before 1000; Middle English mad ( d ) er, Old English mæd ( e ) re; cognate with Old Norse mathra, Old High German matara
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The more I thought about how that big monkey had outsmarted me, the madder I got.
From Literature
For Red: I know you are mad at me, and this might make you madder, but I am going to see the witch.
From Literature
Another, even madder part wanted to go back to Boaz, to demand a proper explanation.
From Literature
"And of course now I'm even madder than I was before because I've thought of little else now for two years."
From BBC
“The more I looked at it, the madder I got,” he recalled.
From Seattle Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
