magic

I. ma‧gic¹ W3 /ˈmædʒɪk/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[Word Family: noun: ↑magic, ↑magician; adjective: ↑magic, ↑magical; adverb: ↑magically]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: magique, from Latin magice, from Greek magike, from magos 'person with magic powers']
1. the power to make impossible things happen by saying special words or doing special actions:
Do you believe in magic? ⇨ black magic, ↑white magic
2. a special, attractive, or exciting quality:
Paris has lost some of its magic for me over the years.
magic of
the magic of Christmas
3. the skill of doing tricks that look like magic in order to entertain people, or the tricks that are done SYN conjuring
4. like magic/as if by magic in a surprising way that seems impossible to explain:
As if by magic the waiter suddenly appeared with a tray of drinks.
5. work/weave your magic if something or someone works or weaves their magic, they produce a good change or effect in a way that they are often able to do:
The warm weather and the beautiful scenery began to work their magic and she started to relax.
6. work like magic to be very effective
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ do magic In the story, the children are not allowed to do magic out of school.
▪ work magic (=do magic) What do you expect me to do? I can’t work magic!
▪ use magic By using magic, he can order the ghost of any dead person to be his servant.
■ adjectives
▪ black magic (=intended to harm people) The candles had been used for black magic.
▪ ancient magic The place seemed full of shadows and ancient magic.
▪ strong/powerful magic Her fingers moved to make the sign that protected against strong magic.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ magic noun [uncountable] the power to make impossible things happen, by saying special words or doing special actions: In the story, she uses magic to turn him into a frog. | Local people believe that he can heal wounds and illnesses using magic.
▪ witchcraft noun [uncountable] the use of magic, usually to do bad things: Hundreds of women were accused of witchcraft in the 1600s.
▪ spell noun [countable] a special set of words or actions that are used to make something happen by magic: a magic spell | An evil witch cast a spell on him (=said a special set of words or did a special series of actions, in order to make something happen to someone by magic), turning him into a beast.
▪ curse (also hex American English) noun [countable] something that makes someone or something have bad luck: The house seemed to have a curse on it. | People believed the pharaoh would put a curse on (=use magic to make them have bad luck)anyone who broke into the tomb. | She believed her former husband had put a hex on her.
▪ the occult mysterious powers and events that involve magic and spirits: He was very interested in the occult.
▪ voodoo noun [uncountable] magical beliefs and practices used as a form of religion: a voodoo curse | In Haiti, the people still practice voodoo.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

magic

magic [magic magics magicked magicking] noun, adjective, verb [ˈmædʒɪk] [ˈmædʒɪk]

noun uncountable
1. the secret power of appearing to make impossible things happen by saying special words or doing special things
• Do you believe in magic?
• a place of secret shadows and ancient magic
• He suddenly appeared as if by magic.
• A passage was cleared through the crowd like magic.

see also black magic

2. the art of doing tricks that seem impossible in order to entertain people

Syn: conjuring

3. a special quality or ability that sb/sth has, that seems too wonderful to be real
Syn: enchantment
• dance and music which capture the magic of India
• He loved the magic and mystery of the place.
• Like all truly charismatic people, he can work his magic on both men and women.
• Our year in Italy was pure/sheer magic.
• He's returning to the team this season, hoping that the old magic can be made to work once more.
see weave your magic at weave _v.
Word 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.
Thesaurus:
magic noun U
• Do you believe in magic?
witchcraft • • black magic • • the supernatural • • the occult • • conjuring • |written sorcery •
do sth by magic/sorcery
use magic/witchcraft/sorcery
a magic/conjuring trick
Example Bank:
• A hot bath and a good night's sleep worked their usual magic.
• Fans agree the musical magic is still there.
• He earns extra money doing magic at children's parties.
• I don't believe in magic.
• It's the director's job to make the magic happen.
• Many people think he has lost his magic as a player.
• People found guilty of practising black magic were hanged.
• Prospero uses his magic to attack them.
• The film fails to recapture the magic of his earlier films.
• The fireworks brought a touch of magic to the occasion.
• The magic slowly begins to work, and the princess starts to come to life again.
• The money had reappeared as if by magic.
• The rabbit disappeared by magic.
• The show is three hours of pure magic.
• Visitors can experience the magic of age-old traditions and historical sites.
• A passage was cleared through the crowd like magic.
• He suddenly appeared as if by magic.

• This was a place of secret shadows and ancient magic.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

magic / ˈmædʒ.ɪk / noun [ U ] (SPECIAL POWER)

A2 the use of special powers to make things happen that would usually be impossible, such as in stories for children:

The group are known for their belief in witchcraft and magic.

As if by magic/ Like magic, the car changes into a boat when it hits the water.

A2 the skill of performing tricks to entertain people, such as making things appear and disappear and pretending to cut someone in half:

He's a comedian who also does magic.

magic / ˈmædʒ.ɪk / noun [ U ] (SPECIAL QUALITY)

B2 a special and exciting quality that makes something seem different from ordinary things:

Although the film was made 50 years ago, it has lost none of its magic.

No one could fail to be charmed by the magic of this beautiful city.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

magic

[mæ̱ʤɪk]

1) N-UNCOUNT Magic is the power to use supernatural forces to make impossible things happen, such as making people disappear or controlling events in nature.
  They believe in magic.
  ...the use of magic to combat any adverse powers or influences...
  Older legends say that Merlin raised the stones by magic.
2) N-UNCOUNT You can use magic when you are referring to an event that is so wonderful, strange, or unexpected that it seems as if supernatural powers have caused it. You can also say that something happens as if by magic or like magic.
  All this was supposed to work magic...
  The picture will now appear, as if by magic!...
  The fog disappeared like magic.
3) ADJ: ADJ n You use magic to describe something that does things, or appears to do things, by magic.
  So it's a magic potion?
  ...the magic ingredient that helps to keep skin looking smooth.
4) N-UNCOUNT: oft N n Magic is the art and skill of performing mysterious tricks to entertain people, for example by making things appear and disappear.
  His secret hobby: performing magic tricks.
5) N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp If you refer to the magic of something, you mean that it has a special mysterious quality which makes it seem wonderful and exciting to you and which makes you feel happy.
  It infected them with some of the magic of a lost age...
  There can be a magic about love that defies all explanation...
  There were also moments of pure magic.
ADJ-GRADED
Magic is also an adjective. Then came those magic moments in the rose-garden.
6) N-UNCOUNT: usu with poss If you refer to a person's magic, you mean a special talent or ability that they have, which you admire or consider very impressive.
  The 32-year-old Jamaican-born fighter believes he can still regain some of his old magic.
7) ADJ: the ADJ n You can use expressions such as the magic number and the magic word to indicate that a number or word is the one which is significant or desirable in a particular situation.
  ...their quest to gain the magic number of 270 electoral votes on Election Day.
  ...the magic word that opened doors onto private worlds.
8) ADJ: ADJ n, with neg Magic is used in expressions such as there is no magic formula and there is no magic solution to say that someone will have to make an effort to solve a problem, because it will not solve itself.
  There is no magic formula for producing winning products...
  There is no magic cure.
9) ADJ-GRADED (approval) If you say that something is magic, you think it is very good or enjoyable. [mainly BRIT, INFORMAL]
  It was magic - one of the best days of my life.
  Syn:
  great

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

¹mag·ic /ˈmæʤɪk/ noun [noncount]
1 : a power that allows people (such as witches and wizards) to do impossible things by saying special words or performing special actions
• perform/work (feats of) magic
• children who believe in magic
- see also black magic
2 : tricks that seem to be impossible and that are done by a performer to entertain people
• a book that explains how to do magic
3 : special power, influence, or skill
• Some doubted the company could ever get back its former magic. [=could ever succeed again as it had succeeded before]
• Both pitchers, though they are older, haven't lost their magic.
4 : a very pleasant, attractive, or exciting quality
• the magic of their singing
• They wanted to get the old magic back into their marriage.
by magic : by the power of magic
• a mop that gets rid of dirt as if by magic
like magic informal : in a very fast and impressive way
• Shapes changed like magic on the computer screen.
• a mop that works like magic [=that works extremely quickly or well]
work your magic
1 : to do something very well
• the kitchen where a great cook works her magic
2 : to have a desired good effect
• It may take a few hours for the medication to work its magic.