Definition of "madder"

madder¹

/ˈmædə(ɹ)/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural madders
1. A herbaceous plant, Rubia tinctorum, native to Asia, cultivated for a red-purple dye (alizarin) obtained from the root.
2. The root of the plant, used as a medicine or a dye.
3. A dye made from the plant.
4. A deep reddish purple colour, like that of the dye.
  Quotations
  Her big head has coloured to a dim and dreadful madder.
  1946, Mervyn Peake, Titus Groan
adjective
not comparable
1. Of a deep reddish purple colour, like that of the dye.
verb
third-person singular simple present madders, present participle maddering, simple past and past participle maddered
1. (transitive, rare) To dye with madder.

/ˈmædə(ɹ)/

/ˈmædə(ɹ)/

/ˈmædə(ɹ)/

verb
third-person singular simple present madders, present participle maddering, simple past and past participle maddered
1. Eye dialect spelling of matter.