madras

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noun ma·dras \ˈma-drəs; mə-ˈdras, -ˈdräs\

Definition of madras

1 : a large silk or cotton kerchief usually of bright colors that is often worn as a turban
2a : a fine plain-woven shirting and dress fabric usually of cotton with varied designs (such as plaid) in bright colors or in whiteb : a light open usually cotton fabric with a heavy design used for curtains

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Examples of madras in a Sentence

an Indian woman wearing a madras in bright yellow

Recent Examples of madras from the Web

Madras expects as many as 100,000 skywatchers to pack into the city and its immediate surroundings Aug. 21 when the moon passes briefly in front of the sun, turning day into night for just about two minutes.

— mike rogoway | the oregonian/oregonlive, OregonLive.com, "Eclipse brings optimism and entrepreneurship in rural Oregon", 3 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'madras'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of madras

Madras, India

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First Known Use: circa 1830

See Words from the same year

Other Clothing Terms

babushka, brogue, bumbershoot, cravat, dishabille, furbelow, layette, raiment, spectator

Madras

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geographical name Ma·dras \mə-ˈdras, -ˈdräs\

Definition of Madras

1 — see tamil nadu
2 or Chennaiplay \ˈche-ˌnī\ city and port on the Bay of Bengal in southern India population 4,646,732 ◆Madras serves as capital of the state of Tamil Nadu.