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Glite Dictionary
Indian madder

Indian madder

9.9
A creeping plant whose roots make red dye for cloth
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : madera india
  • The roots of Indian madder yield a red dye prized in textile industries.

Examples

  • The artist used Indian madder to create vibrant red pigments.

  • In ancient Asia, Indian madder was cultivated to produce vibrant fabrics.

  • Traditional medicine sometimes employs Indian madder for its purported health benefits.

  • Can you identify Indian madder in this garden?

  • In ancient Asia, Indian madder was cultivated to produce vibrant fabrics.

  • The roots of Indian madder yield a red dye prized in textile industries.

  • The artist used Indian madder to create vibrant red pigments.

Synonyms

Rubia cordifolia
vsIndian madder
  • Specialized
9.9

A climbing plant from Asia whose roots make red dye

is the common traditional name used in everyday regional speech
munjeet
vsIndian madder
  • Indian
9.9

A climbing plant from India whose roots make red dye

is the broader English name used beyond specific Asian regions

Surface Forms

Indian madder singular
Indian madders plural

Morphology

Indian + madder

The noun phrase is fully compositional: 'madder' denotes a dye-producing plant and 'Indian' specifies its geographic origin, so the phrase simply refers to a madder plant from India used for dye. This follows a common adjective + noun pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily derive the intended meaning.

Etymology

Indian madder comes from a plant in India whose roots make a strong red dye. Cloth makers used the madder roots to colour fabric, so the name now refers to the plant used for 'red dye'.