Madras

Ma·dras  (m-drs, -dräs)

See Chennai.

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mad·ras  (mdrs, m-drs, -dräs)

n.

1. A cotton cloth of fine texture, usually with a plaid, striped, or checked pattern.

2. A silk, generally striped, cloth.

3.

a. A light cotton cloth used for drapery.

b. A similar cloth of rayon.

4. A large handkerchief of brightly colored silk or cotton, often worn as a turban.

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[After Madras (Chennai), India.]

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madras [ˈmædrəs məˈdræs -ˈdrɑːs]

n

1. (Clothing, Personal Arts & Crafts / Textiles)

a.  a strong fine cotton or silk fabric, usually with a woven stripe

b.  (as modifier) madras cotton

2. (Clothing & Fashion) something made of this, esp a scarf

3. (Cookery) a medium-hot curry chicken madras

[so named because the material originated in the Madras area]

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Madras [məˈdrɑːs -ˈdræs]

n

1. (Placename) a port in SE India, capital of Tamil Nadu, on the Bay of Bengal: founded in 1639 by the English East India Company as Fort St George; traditional burial place of St Thomas; university (1857). Pop. (city): 3 841 396 (1991), with a conurbation of 5 421 985 (1991) Official name Chennai

2. (Placename) the former name (until 1968) for the state of Tamil Nadu

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mad•ras (ˈmæd rəs, məˈdræs, -ˈdrɑs)

n.

1. a light cotton fabric of various weaves, esp. one in multicolored plaid or stripes.

2. a thin curtain fabric of a gauzelike weave with figures of heavier yarns.

3. a large brightly colored silk or cotton kerchief often used for turbans.

[1885–90; earlier Madras handkerchief, after Madras]

Ma•dras (məˈdræs, -ˈdrɑs)

n.

1. the capital of Tamil Nadu state, in SE India, on the Bay of Bengal. 4,277,000.

2. former name of Tamil Nadu.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	Madras - a state in southeastern India on the Bay of Bengal (south of Andhra Pradesh); formerly Madras Tamil Nadu Bharat, India, Republic of India - a republic in the Asian subcontinent in southern Asia; second most populous country in the world; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947
	2.	Madras - a city in Tamil Nadu on the Bay of Bengal; formerly Madras Chennai Bharat, India, Republic of India - a republic in the Asian subcontinent in southern Asia; second most populous country in the world; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947
	3.	madras - a light patterned cotton cloth cloth, fabric, textile, material - artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers; "the fabric in the curtains was light and semitransparent"; "woven cloth originated in Mesopotamia around 5000 BC"; "she measured off enough material for a dress"