elixir

C1 Topic:Health & Medicine

US /ɪˈlɪksɚ/ UK /ɪˈlɪksə/ See IPA manual

Freq #18082

Meanings

1

noun
a mythical or magical liquid believed to cure disease, preserve youth, or prolong life

The alchemist claimed that one drop of the elixir could restore youth.
2

noun
an alchemical preparation supposedly able to transform base metals into gold

Years of experiments failed to produce the legendary elixir that would turn lead into gold.
3

noun
something regarded as a remedy, source of vitality, or solution to a problem

The minister presented tax cuts as an elixir for the slowing economy.
4

noun
a sweetened liquid, often containing alcohol, used to carry or flavor medicine

The pharmacist suspended the bitter compound in a mint-flavored elixir.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a mythical or magical... potion panaceaelixir of life

2 noun · an alchemical preparation... philosopher's stone

3 noun · something regarded as a... cure-allremedy panacea

4 noun · a sweetened liquid, often... medicinal solution

Word family

Related forms alchemyphilosopher's stonetincture medicine

Etymology

From Medieval Latin elixir, through Arabic al-iksir, 'the alchemical preparation,' from Greek xerion, a dry medicinal powder, based on xeros, 'dry.' In medieval alchemy it named a substance thought to transform metals; from that promise came the elixir of life and the later figurative sense of a universal remedy.

Topics

Health & Medicine

External links

# elixir

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ɪˈlɪksɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪˈlɪksə/
**Frequency rank:** 18082

## Meanings
1. a mythical or magical liquid believed to cure disease, preserve youth, or prolong life
2. an alchemical preparation supposedly able to transform base metals into gold
3. something regarded as a remedy, source of vitality, or solution to a problem
4. a sweetened liquid, often containing alcohol, used to carry or flavor medicine

## Examples
- The alchemist claimed that one drop of the elixir could restore youth.
- Years of experiments failed to produce the legendary elixir that would turn lead into gold.
- The minister presented tax cuts as an elixir for the slowing economy.
- The pharmacist suspended the bitter compound in a mint-flavored elixir.

## Synonyms
- potion
- panacea
- cure-all
- remedy
- medicinal solution

## Related Forms
- alchemy
- philosopher's stone
- tincture
- medicine

## Etymology
From Medieval Latin elixir, through Arabic al-iksir, 'the alchemical preparation,' from Greek xerion, a dry medicinal powder, based on xeros, 'dry.' In medieval alchemy it named a substance thought to transform metals; from that promise came the elixir of life and the later figurative sense of a universal remedy.

## Topics
- Health & Medicine

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