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.
Synonyms: sorcery, wizardry, witchcraft, enchantment More Synonyms of magic
2. uncountable noun
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. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
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.
Synonyms: supernatural, enchanted, occult, thaumaturgic [rare] More Synonyms of magic
4. uncountable noun [oft NOUN noun]
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.
Synonyms: conjuring, illusion, trickery, sleight of hand More Synonyms of magic
5. uncountable noun
If you refer to themagicof something, you mean that it has a special mysterious quality which makes it seem wonderful and exciting to you and which makesyou feel happy.
It infected them with some of the magic of a lost age. [+ of]
There can be a magic about love that defies all explanation.
There were also moments of pure magic.
Magic is also an adjective.
Then came those magic moments in the rose-garden.
6. uncountable noun [usually 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 fighter believes he can still regain some of his old magic.
Synonyms: charm, power, glamour, fascination More Synonyms of magic
7. adjective
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. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun, 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. adjective
If you say that something is magic, you think it is very good or enjoyable.
[mainly British, informal, approval]
It was magic–one of the best days of my life.
Synonyms: marvellous, wonderful, excellent, brilliant [informal] More Synonyms of magic
More Synonyms of magic
magic in British English
(ˈmædʒɪk)
noun
1.
the art that, by use of spells, supposedly invokes supernatural powers to influence events; sorcery
2.
the practice of this art
3.
the practice of illusory tricks to entertain other people; conjuring
4.
any mysterious or extraordinary quality or power
the magic of springtime
5. like magic
adjective also: magical
6.
of or relating to magic
a magic spell
7.
possessing or considered to possess mysterious powers
a magic wand
8.
unaccountably enchanting
magic beauty
9. informal
wonderful; marvellous; exciting
verbWord forms: -ics, -icking or -icked(transitive)
10.
to transform or produce by or as if by magic
11. (foll by away)
to cause to disappear by or as if by magic
Derived forms
magical (ˈmagical)
adjective
magically (ˈmagically)
adverb
Word origin
C14: via Old French magique, from Greek magikē witchcraft, from magosmagus
magic in American English
(ˈmædʒɪk)
noun
1.
a.
the use of spells, charms, and rituals in seeking or pretending to cause or control events or to govern certain natural or supernatural forces; occultism
b.
such spells, charms, etc.
2.
any mysterious, seemingly inexplicable, or extraordinary power or quality
the magic of love
3.
the art or performing skill of producing baffling effects or illusions by sleight of hand, concealed apparatus, etc.
adjective
4.
of, produced by, used in, or using magic
5.
producing extraordinary results, as if by magic or supernatural means
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈmagicked or ˈmagicking
6.
to cause, change, make, etc. by or as if by magic
7.
to make disappear by or as if by magic
with away
SYNONYMY NOTE: magic is the general term for any of the supposed arts of producing marvelous effects bysupernatural or occult power and is figuratively applied to any extraordinary, seeminglyinexplicable power; , sorcery implies magic in which spells are cast or charms are used, usually for a harmfulor sinister purpose; , witchcraft (of women) and , wizardry (of men) imply the possession of supernatural power by compact with evil spirits,, witchcraft figuratively suggesting the use of womanly wiles, and , wizardry, remarkable skill, cleverness, etc.
Word origin
ME magike < OFr magique < L magice < Gr magikē (technē), magic (art), sorcery < magikos, of the Magi: see Magi
COBUILD Collocations
magic
pure magic
Examples of 'magic' in a sentence
magic
There was a kind of magic about it.
The Sun (2016)
There can be no perfect fix and nobody can come in and wave a magic wand.
The Sun (2016)
Why not use magic or an explosive?
The Sun (2016)
He has something of a magic touch when it comes to picking films.
The Sun (2016)
Learning lines was like a magic trick when you're filming so much.
The Sun (2017)
There's a magic in that moment.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Other companies want a touch of her magic, too.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The goal sums him up - he was a bit elusive and produced that magic and spark needed.
The Sun (2016)
A toad with magic powers enables him to spend an experimental week as each of two other creatures.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This may at first sight appear as a magic solution to a complex problem.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This limits the use of magic to those ends which are beneficial to society.
Crowley, Vivianne Phoenix From the Flame (1994)
It seemed to have magic powers that just washed the pain away.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You might be able to work up a little magic if you practiced first.
Diana Wynne Jones CHARMED LIFE (1977)
There is not a magic number that will make it happen any quicker.
The Sun (2011)
We could do that with magic tricks.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Millions tuned in to see their magic moments of glory.
The Sun (2013)
The more we give it to him the more he can produce his magic.
The Sun (2006)
There has been no inspiring team talk or special magic moment or meeting with a guru.
The Sun (2009)
Yet somehow it has found the elusive magic formula.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The moon shines directly on you to add a touch of magic to your love life.
The Sun (2006)
You know when you hear people talk about the magic guitar that wrote all their songs?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Yet these changes did not happen by magic.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
There was no magic cure and no one else could do it for me.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Then the feeling turned to anger and shame and he was overwhelmed by a desire to disappear through a magic trapdoor.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It really has been something magic.
The Sun (2010)
The computer is, to them, like mysterious dark magic.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Word lists with
magic
Types of entertainment
In other languages
magic
British English: magic /ˈmædʒɪk/ ADJECTIVE
You use magic to describe something that does things, or appears to do things, by magic.
So it's a magic potion?
American English: magic
Arabic: سِحْرِيُّ
Brazilian Portuguese: mágico
Chinese: 有魔力的
Croatian: čaroban
Czech: kouzelný
Danish: magisk
Dutch: magisch
European Spanish: mágico poderes/número/palabras
Finnish: taika-
French: magique
German: magisch
Greek: μαγικός
Italian: magico
Japanese: 魔法の
Korean: 마술의
Norwegian: magisk
Polish: magiczny
European Portuguese: mágico
Romanian: magic
Russian: волшебный
Latin American Spanish: mágico
Swedish: magisk
Thai: วิเศษ
Turkish: büyülü
Ukrainian: чарівний
Vietnamese: thần kỳ
British English: magic /ˈmædʒɪk/ NOUN
Magic is the power to use supernatural forces to make impossible things happen, such as making people disappear or controlling events in nature.