[muh-deer-uh, -dair-uh; for 1, 2, 5 also Port. mah-de-ruh] 
| 1. | a group of eight islands off the NW coast of Africa, part of Portugal. 270,000; 308 sq. mi. (798 sq. km). Capital: 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. 2100 mi. (3380 km) long. |
| Ma·dei·ra 1 (mə-dîr'ə, -děr'ə) A river of northwest Brazil rising on the Bolivian border and flowing about 3,315 km (2,060 mi) generally northeast to the Amazon River near Manaus. It is the most important tributary of the Amazon. |
| Ma·dei·ra 2 (mə-dîr'ə, -děr'ə) n. A fortified dessert wine, especially from the island of Madeira. |
