magic

 
Pronunciation: /ˈmadʒɪk/

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).