Madeira: Meaning and Definition of

Ma•dei•ra

Pronunciation: (mu-dēr'u, -dâr'u for 1, 2, 5 also Port. mä-de'ru), [key]
— n.
  1. a group of eight islands off the NW coast of Africa, part of Portugal. 270,000; 308 sq. mi. (798 sq. km). Cap.: Funchal.
  2. the chief island of this group. 286 sq. mi. (741 sq. km).
  3. (often l.c.) a rich, strong white or amber wine, resembling sherry, made there.
  4. (often l.c.) a similar wine made elsewhere.
  5. a river in W Brazil flowing NE to the Amazon: chief tributary of the Amazon. 2100 mi. (3380 km) long.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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