madder

¹ American  

[mad-er] / ˈmæd ər /

noun

1. any plant of the genus Rubia, especially the climbing R. tinctorum, of Europe, having open clusters of small, yellowish flowers.

2. the root of this plant, formerly used in dyeing.

3. the dye or coloring matter itself.

4. a color produced by such a dye.

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madder ² American  

[mad-er] / ˈmæd ər /

adjective

1. comparative of mad.

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madder ¹ British  

/ ˈmædə /

noun

1. 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. the root of this plant

3. a dark reddish-purple dye formerly obtained by fermentation of this root; identical to the synthetic dye, alizarin

4. a red lake obtained from alizarin and an inorganic base; used as a pigment in inks and paints

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madder ² British  

/ ˈmædə /

adjective

1. the comparative of mad

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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

"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

Depending on how things go, the situation might get even madder.

From Los Angeles Times

In the mad rush to get on the plane first, things are getting even madder.

From Seattle Times

She grows a dye garden of rarer plants like indigo and madder, along with marigold flowers, sunflower seeds and mushrooms.

From Seattle Times