elixir — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A liquid which converts lead to gold.

   Examples

   For Chinese alchemists, gold held the key to the Elixir, the Eastern equivalent of the Philosopher's Stone.

2. A substance or liquid which is believed to cure all ills and give eternal life.

3. The alleged cure for all ailments; cure-all, panacea.

   Usage

   • broadly

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   The silver-bullet cancer cures of yesterday’s newsmagazine covers, like interferon and angiogenesis inhibitors, disappointed the breathless expectations, as have elixirs such as antioxidants, Vioxx, and hormone replacement therapy.

4. A sweet flavored liquid (usually containing a small amount of alcohol) used in compounding medicines to be taken by mouth in order to mask an unpleasant taste.

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   The subcommittee's report to the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry shows that the action of somnos is practically identical with that of a 5 per cent elixir of hydrated chloral.

Noun

1. a sweet flavored liquid (usually containing a small amount of alcohol) used in compounding medicines to be taken by mouth in order to mask an unpleasant taste

   Broader terms

   liquid

2. hypothetical substance that the alchemists believed to be capable of changing base metals into gold

   Synonyms

   philosopher's stonephilosophers' stone

   Broader terms

   substance

3. a substance believed to cure all ills

   Broader terms

   potionpanaceanostrumcatholiconcure-all