madder

mad·der  (mdr)

n.

1.

a. A southwest Asian perennial plant (Rubia tinctorum) having small yellow flowers, whorled leaves, and a red root.

b. The root of this plant, formerly an important source of the dye alizarin.

c. A red dye obtained from the roots of this plant.

2. A medium to strong red or reddish orange.

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[Middle English, from Old English mædere.]

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madder¹

n

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any of several rubiaceous plants of the genus Rubia, esp the Eurasian R. tinctoria, which has small yellow flowers and a red fleshy root

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) the root of this plant

3. (Clothing, Personal Arts & Crafts / Dyeing) a dark reddish-purple dye formerly obtained by fermentation of this root; identical to the synthetic dye, alizarin

4. (Clothing, Personal Arts & Crafts / Dyeing) a red lake obtained from alizarin and an inorganic base; used as a pigment in inks and paints

[Old English mædere; related to Middle Dutch mēde, Old Norse mathra]

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madder²

adj

the comparative of mad

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Madder of painters.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	madder - Eurasian herb having small yellow flowers and red roots formerly an important source of the dye alizarin Rubia tinctorum madderwort, rubiaceous plant - any of numerous trees or shrubs or vines of the family Rubiaceae
Verb	1.	madder - color a moderate to strong red redden - make red; "The setting sun reddened the sky"

Translations

madder

n (= plant) → Krapp m, → Färberröte f; (= dye) → Krapprot nt, → Krappfarbstoff m