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magic

Pronunciation: /ˈmadʒɪk/
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Definition of magic

noun

[mass noun]
  • the power of apparently influencing events by using mysterious or supernatural forces:suddenly, as if by magic, the doors start to open
  • mysterious tricks, such as making things disappear and reappear, performed as entertainment: [as modifier]:his parents bought him a magic set for Christmas
  • a quality of being beautiful and delightful in a way that seems remote from daily life:the magic of the theatre
  • informal exceptional skill or talent:he’s been working his magic on New Zealand movies for the past two decades

adjective

  • 1having or apparently having supernatural powers:a magic wand
  • [attributive] very effective in producing the desired results:confidence is the magic ingredient needed to spark recovery
  • 2British informal wonderful; exciting:it was a great time, magic

verb (magics, magicking, magicked)

[with object and adverbial]
  • move, change, or create by or as if by magic:he must have been magicked out of the car at the precise second it exploded

Phrases

like magic

remarkably effectively or rapidly:this method works like magic

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French magique, from Latin magicus (adjective), late Latin magica (noun), from Greek magikē (tekhnē) '(art of) a magus': magi were regarded as magicians

Spelling rule

If a verb ends in -ic (as in picnic), add a k after the c when adding -ed, -ing, and -er: (magics, magicking, magicked).

magic in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of magic in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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