What does "elixir" mean?
A liquid which converts lead to gold.
Elixir
/ɪˈlɪksə(ɹ)/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A liquid which converts lead to gold.
- Grammar: elixir is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: axiom, balm, balsam, base.
- Useful contrasts: curse, disease, poison.
- Usage evidence: The pharmaceutical company is looking for the Elixir of Life to stop the ageing process.
How to use "elixir"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "elixir" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "elixir" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "elixir" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "elixir" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "elixir" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "axiom" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "elixir", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A liquid which converts lead to gold.
"For Chinese alchemists, gold held the key to the Elixir, the Eastern equivalent of the Philosopher's Stone."
- 2 a substance believed to cure all ills wordnet
- 3 A substance or liquid which is believed to cure all ills and give eternal life.
- 4 hypothetical substance that the alchemists believed to be capable of changing base metals into gold wordnet
- 5 The alleged cure for all ailments; cure-all, panacea. broadly
"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."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 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 wordnet
- 7 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.
"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."
Example
"The pharmaceutical company is looking for the Elixir of Life to stop the ageing process."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "elixir"?
Common synonyms include: axiom, balm, balsam, base, basis, beverage.
How do you use "elixir" in a sentence?
The pharmaceutical company is looking for the Elixir of Life to stop the ageing process.
How do you pronounce "elixir"?
Pronounced /ɪˈlɪksə(ɹ)/.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin elixir (“philosopher's stone”), from Arabic اَلْإِكْسِير (al-ʔiksīr, “philosopher's stone”), from Ancient Greek ξηρίον (xēríon, “powder for drying wounds”), from ξηρός (xērós, “dry”).