| Madagascan | prop. a. 1. Of or pertaining to Madagascar; as, Madagascan pepper. [ WordNet 1.5 ] 2. Of or pertaining to the inhabitants of Madagascar; as, Madagascan soldiers. Syn. -- Malagasy. [ WordNet 1.5 ] | | Madagascan | prop. n. A native or inhabitant of Madagascar. [ WordNet 1.5 ] | | Madagascar | pos>prop. n. An island in the Indian Ocean, about 240 miles off the southeast coast of Africa, governed as a single country, the Republic of Madagascar. It is the world's fourth-largest island, with a total area of 587, 040 sq km, with 4, 828 km of coastline. Once a French colony, it gained independence from France in 1960. The name of the government after independence was the Malagasy Republic. [ PJC ] Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1886, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997 in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency. The Population: is 15, 982, 563 (July 2001 est.) The highest point is Maromokotro, at 2, 876 m. Natural resources are: graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, and hydropower. CIA World Factbook [ PJC ] | | madagascar cat | n. (Zool.) A small lemur having its tail barred with black. Syn. -- ring-tailed lemur, Lemur catta. [ WordNet 1.5 ] | | madagascar jasmine | n. (Bot.) A twining woody vine (Stephanotis floribunda) of Madagascar having thick dark waxy evergreen leaves and clusters of large fragrant waxy white flowers along the stems; widely cultivated in warm regions. Syn. -- waxflower, Stephanotis floribunda. [ WordNet 1.5 ] | | madagascar pepper | n. (Bot.) A climber (Piper nigrum) having dark red berries (peppercorns) when fully ripe; found in South India and Sri Lanka; naturalized in North Burma and Assam. Syn. -- pepper, common pepper, black pepper, white pepper, Madagascar pepper, Piper nigrum. [ WordNet 1.5 ] | | madagascar periwinkle | n. (Bot.) A commonly cultivated Old World woody herb (Vinca rosea) having large pinkish to red flowers. Syn. -- periwinkle, rose periwinkle, Madagascar periwinkle, old maid, Cape periwinkle, red periwinkle, cayenne jasmine, Catharanthus roseus, Vinca rosea. [ WordNet 1.5 ] | | madagascar plum | n. (Bot.) A small shrubby tree (Flacourtia indica) of Madagascar cultivated in tropical regions as a hedge plant and for its deep red acid fruits resembling small plums. Syn. -- governor's plum, governor plum, Madagascar plum, ramontchi, batoko palm, Flacourtia indica. [ WordNet 1.5 ] | | madake | n. large bamboo having thick-walled culms; native of China and perhaps Japan; widely brown elsewhere. Syn. -- giant timber bamboo, ku-chiku, Phyllostachys bambusoides. [ WordNet 1.5 ] | | Madam | n.; pl. Madams, or Mesdames [ See Madame. ] 1. A gentlewoman; -- an appellation or courteous form of address given to a lady, especially an elderly or a married lady; -- much used in the address, at the beginning of a letter, to a woman. The corresponding word in addressing a man is Sir; often abbreviated ma'am when used as a term of address. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. The woman who is in charge of a household. [ PJC ] 3. The woman who is in charge of a brothel. [ PJC ] |
|