/ ˈælkəmi; NAmE / noun [ U ]
1.
a form of chemistry studied in the Middle Ages which involved trying to discover how to change ordinary metals into gold
2.
( literary ) a mysterious power or magic that can change things
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : via Old French and medieval Latin from Arabic al-kīmiyā' , from al the + kīmiyā' (from Greek khēmia , khēmeia art of transmuting metals).