Madonna

American  

[muh-don-uh] / məˈdɒn ə /

noun

1. Usually the Madonna the Virgin Mary.

2. a picture or statue representing the Virgin Mary.

3. Archaic. Often madonna an Italian title of formal address to a woman.

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Madonna ¹ British  

/ məˈdɒnə /

noun

1. RC Church a designation of the Virgin Mary

2. (sometimes not capital) a picture or statue of the Virgin Mary

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Madonna ² British  

/ məˈdɒnə /

noun

1. full name Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone. born 1958, US rock singer and film actress. Her records include "Like a Virgin" (1985), "Like a Prayer" (1989), Ray of Light (1998), Music (2000), and MDNA (2012). Her films include Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) and Evita (1996)

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Madonna ¹ Cultural  

1. A work of art depicting Mary, the mother of Jesus, especially one that shows her holding the infant Jesus; also a term for Mary herself. Madonna is Italian for “my lady.”

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Madonna ² Cultural  

1. An American pop singer known for her many incarnations, ranging from an early “Material Girl” to a movie star (Evita) to a mother and wife. Many consider Madonna a promotional genius for her ability to reinvent herself.

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Etymology

Origin of Madonna

First recorded in 1575–85; from Italian, from Old Italian ma donna “my lady”; donna ( def. )

Example Sentences

“Sucker for Love” has the effervescence of an ’80s synth-pop tune in the vein of Madonna’s first album, with more open space in the sequenced rhythms and a bouncy melody packed with hooks.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Let Me Roll It” had a funky swagger, while “Getting Better” chugged with cheerful insistence; “I’ve Just Seen a Face” showed off the group’s crisp harmonies and “Lady Madonna” its tight rhythmic interplay.

From Los Angeles Times

Presented with the work thematically and chronologically, visitors are first introduced to Raphael’s origins and education, and then immersed in the world of Raphael’s multiple graphic and painted studies of the Madonna and Child.

From The Wall Street Journal

A Malawi High Court has dismissed a wrongful‑termination case against US pop star Madonna brought by the sister of a former president, in one of the country's longest-running NGO disputes.

From Barron's

After some small television roles, an appearance in a Madonna music video and a few big screen appearances, his major breakthrough came in 1995 with "The Usual Suspects."

From Barron's

Related Words

• madame