madeira
madeira Lexical Profile
madeira Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An archipelago and autonomous region of Portugal situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Morocco, historically known for its landscapes and wine production.
"We spent our summer vacation hiking along the stunning coastal cliffs of Madeira."
A fortified wine produced in the Madeira Islands, ranging from dry to sweet and noted for its distinctive, deliberately oxidized and heated flavor profile.
"After dinner, the host served a glass of vintage Madeira to accompany the artisanal cheese board."
British A traditional, firm sponge cake, typically flavored with lemon and originally named because it was intended to be eaten while drinking Madeira wine.
"She baked a classic Madeira cake with a pronounced lemon zest flavor for the afternoon tea."
Word Nuance & Usage
Almost exclusively capitalized as 'Madeira' in standard usage, whether referring to the Portuguese geographic region, the fortified wine, or the associated cake.
• Rhymes for madeira
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Portuguese 'Madeira', literally meaning 'wood' or 'timber', named by 15th-century explorers due to the island's dense native forests. Ultimately derived from Latin 'materia'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.