INDEX:
1. magic
2. someone with magic powers
3. magic done as entertainment
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ STRANGE
↑ MYSTERIOUS
↑ GHOST
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1. magic
▷ magic /ˈmædʒɪk/ [uncountable noun]
a secret power to make things happen or to do things that are normally impossible, by saying special words or doing special actions :
▪ Do you believe in magic?
▪ We only have limited knowledge about the practice of magic in the Middle Ages.
by magic
▪ Angela clapped her hands and the cats disappeared as if by magic.
magic [adjective only before noun]
magic words/number/powers
▪ Medea said the magic words that would bring her lover back to her.
▪ The branch grew into a tree that had magic powers.
▷ witchcraft /ˈwɪtʃkrɑːftǁ-kræft/ [uncountable noun]
the use of magic to harm people and make bad things happen :
▪ At that time, hundreds of women were burned at the stake for witchcraft.
▪ People who were accused of practicing witchcraft were thrown into the lake.
▷ black magic /ˌblæk ˈmædʒɪk/ [uncountable noun]
the use of magic to make bad and evil things happen, often by groups of people who believe in it as a religion :
▪ The papers were full of sensational reports on black magic, child killings, and drug raids by police.
▪ Members of the group say they are not involved in devil worship or black magic.
▷ spell /spel/ [countable noun]
words or actions that are used to make something magic happen :
cast a spell
to say words that will make something magic happen
▪ The Lilac Fairy cast a spell that sent Aurora to sleep.
put a spell on somebody
▪ When the old man was angry, he threatened to put a spell on the whole tribe.
under a spell
affected by a spell
▪ Carmelina knew that the bird was really the handsome prince under a spell from the wicked witch.
▷ the occult /ðə ˈɒkʌlt, əˈkʌltǁ-əˈkʌlt, ˈɑːkʌlt/ [singular noun]
spirits and magic, especially magic that involves communicating with evil spirits :
▪ Throughout his life he maintained an interest in the occult.
▪ By the late 1880s , the spreading fascination with the occult sparked a new direction among several young artists.
▷ voodoo /ˈvuːduː/ [uncountable noun]
magical beliefs and practices that are used as a form of religion, especially in the Caribbean :
▪ Jonnie said he was going to a voodoo ceremony that night.
▪ a voodoo priest
2. someone with magic powers
▷ witch /wɪtʃ/ [countable noun]
a woman who is believed to have magic power, which she uses especially to harm people or make bad things happen; in stories, witches are usually shown dressed in black with a tall, pointed hat :
▪ The old woman had only pretended to be so kind; she was in reality a wicked witch.
▷ fairy /ˈfe ə ri/ [countable noun]
an imaginary creature like a small person with wings, who has magic powers :
▪ A beautiful fairy danced near him, and he reached out to catch her, but caught only her handkerchief.
▷ magician/wizard /məˈdʒɪʃ ə n, ˈwɪzəʳd/ [countable noun]
a man who is believed to have magic power; in stories, magicians and wizards are usually shown as having a long beard and a pointed hat with stars and moons on it :
▪ The wizard’s ring had the power to make him invisible.
▪ The magician knew that behind the door lay an enchanted garden.
▷ magician also conjuror especially British /məˈdʒɪʃ ə n, ˈkʌndʒərəʳǁˈkɑːn-, ˈkʌn-/ [countable noun]
someone who does magic tricks in order to entertain people :
▪ We watched in amazement as the magician made all the rings disappear.
▪ The conjuror’s tricks delighted the children.
3. magic done as entertainment
▷ magic /ˈmædʒɪk/ [uncountable noun]
the skill of doing tricks that seem like magic, as a way of entertaining people :
▪ The club features juggling and magic acts in addition to stand-up comedy.
▪ an evening of magic and comedy
▷ trick /trɪk/ [countable noun]
a skilful action that makes something happen which seems impossible, performed as entertainment :
do/perform a trick
▪ It’s hard to do a trick like this in front of so many people.
magic trick also conjuring trick
British
▪ Helen sat on the bed, clapping while her brother did magic tricks.
card trick
a trick done with playing cards
▪ John would sometimes perform card tricks for his buddies.