Webster's English Dictionary

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madder

mad.der \'mad-*r\ n [ME, fr. OE mdere; akin to OHG matara madder] 1: a 
   Eurasian herb (Rubia tinctorum of the family Rubiaceae, the madd er family) 
   with verticillate leaves and small yellowish panicled flowers succeeded by 
   berries; broadly : any of several related herbs (genus Rubia) 2a: the root 
   of the Eurasian madder used formerly in dyeing; also :  an alizarin dye 
   prepared from it 2b: a moderate to strong red