Madeira

American  

[muh-deer-uh, -dair-uh, mah-de-ruh] / məˈdɪər ə, -ˈdɛər ə, mɑˈdɛ rə /

noun

1. a group of eight islands off the NW coast of Africa, part of Portugal. 308 sq. mi. (798 sq. km). Funchal.

2. the chief island of this group. 286 sq. mi. (741 sq. km).

3. (often lowercase) a rich, strong white or amber wine, resembling sherry, made there.

4. (often lowercase) a similar wine made elsewhere.

5. a river in W Brazil flowing NE to the Amazon: chief tributary of the Amazon. 2,100 miles (3,380 km) long.

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Madeira British  

/ məˈdɪərə, məˈðəirə /

noun

1. a group of volcanic islands in the N Atlantic, west of Morocco: since 1976 an autonomous region of Portugal; consists of the chief island, Madeira, Porto Santo, and the uninhabited Deserta and Selvagen Islands. Capital: Funchal. Pop: 245 012 (2001). Area: 797 sq km (311 sq miles)

2. a river in W Brazil, flowing northeast to the Amazon below Manaus. Length: 3241 km (2013 miles)

3. a rich strong fortified white wine made on Madeira

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Example Sentences

Madeira, the real one, was probably unaware at the time his mischief would create a cult figure whose legacy lives on among early-noughties wannabe managers.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

To Madeira was a bargain wonderkid on Championship Manager 01-02, a guaranteed goal-getter available for a few hundred thousand pounds who would evolve into one of the game's greatest strikers.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

The show will introduce new characters too: Malcolm has a daughter, played by Keeley Karsten, and a girlfriend, played by Kiana Madeira.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 29, 2025

In early 2008, and again in early 2018, a disease killed about 93% of D. africanum off Tenerife and La Palma, and about 90% off the islands of neighboring Madeira.

From Science Daily • Dec. 12, 2025

There was warm honeyed milk for the children, and coffee and sweet Madeira wine for the adults.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood