\Mad"der\, n. [OE. mader, AS. m[ae]dere; akin to Icel.
ma?ra.] (Bot.)
A plant of the {Rubia} ({R. tinctorum}). The root is much
used in dyeing red, and formerly was used in medicine. It is
cultivated in France and Holland. See {Rubiaceous}.

Note: Madder is sometimes used in forming pigments, as lakes,
      etc., which receive their names from their colors; as.
      madder yellow.

{Field madder}, an annual European weed ({Sherardia
   arvensis}) resembling madder.

{Indian madder}, the East Indian {Rubia cordifolia}, used in
   the East for dyeing; -- called also {munjeet}.

{Wild madder}, {Rubia peregrina} of Europe; also the {Galium
   Mollugo}, a kind of bedstraw.