noun
madder
MAD-uh
noun
1
A plant whose root produces a deep reddish dye, or the dye itself.
"Medieval weavers used madder to dye wool a deep red."
adj
1
Having the deep purplish-red colour associated with the madder dye.
"The curtains were a rich madder shade."
How to Use Madder
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA red dye plant, or the deep red colour it produces — not to be confused with "madder" as in "more mad".
Common mistake
This is a separate word from the comparative of "mad" ("he got madder and madder") — same spelling, different origin and meaning.
Word Forms
maddered past tense, madders plural, madders singular
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Medieval weavers used _____ to dye wool a deep red.
Etymology
From Old English mædere, going back to a Proto-Germanic root for the plant, related to Swedish måra.