Madeira

noun

Ma·​dei·​ra mə-ˈdir-ə  -ˈder- 

: an amber-colored fortified wine from Madeira

also : a similar wine made elsewhere

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese, from Madeira Islands

First Known Use

circa 1595, in the meaning defined above

Geographical Definition

Madeira

geographical name

Ma·​dei·​ra mə-ˈdir-ə 

-ˈder-ə

1

river 2082 miles (3350 kilometers) long in western Brazil that is formed at the border with Bolivia by the confluence of the Mamoré and the Beni and rivers and flows northeast to the Amazon River

2

islands, two of which are inhabited, belonging to Portugal in the North Atlantic north of the Canaries; capital Funchal area 308 square miles (798 square kilometers), population 261,313

3

chief island of the Madeira Islands; noted for its wine area 285 square miles (741 square kilometers)

Madeiran

mə-ˈdir-ən 

-ˈder-

adjective or noun