- an alchemical preparation supposed to be capable of prolonging life indefinitely (elixir of life) or of transmuting base metals into gold
- anything that purports to be a sovereign remedy; panacea
- an underlying principle; quintessence
- a liquid containing a medicinal drug with syrup, glycerine, or alcohol added to mask its unpleasant taste
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
e•lix•ir /ɪˈlɪksɚ/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- an imaginary preparation believed to be capable of prolonging life, or of changing ordinary metal into gold.
- something that can cure all ills.
e•lix•ir
(i lik′sər),USA pronunciation n.
- Drugs[Pharm.]a sweetened, aromatic solution of alcohol and water containing, or used as a vehicle for, medicinal substances.
- Also called elix′ir of life′. an alchemic preparation formerly believed to be capable of prolonging life.
- an alchemic preparation formerly believed to be capable of transmuting base metals into gold.
- the quintessence or absolute embodiment of anything.
- a panacea;
cure-all;
sovereign remedy.
- Late Greek xé̄rion drying powder (for wounds), equivalent. to Greek xēr(ós) dry + -ion, neuter of -ios adjective, adjectival suffix
- Arabic al iksīr alchemical preparation
- Medieval Latin
- Middle English 1350–1400
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
elixir /ɪˈlɪksə/ n
'elixir' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):