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ambrosia

noun am·bro·sia \ am-ˈbrō-zh(ē-)ə \
|Updated on: 29 May 2018

Definition of ambrosia

1 a : the food of the Greek and Roman gods
b : the ointment or perfume of the gods
2 : something extremely pleasing to taste or smell
3 : a dessert made of oranges and shredded coconut
—

ambrosial

play \am-ˈbrō-zh(ē-)əl\ adjective
—

ambrosially

play \-zh(ē-)ə-lē\ adverb

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Recent Examples of ambrosia from the Web

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Did You Know?

Ambrosia literally means "immortality" in Greek; it is derived from the Greek word ambrotos ("immortal"), which combines the prefix a- (meaning "not") with mbrotos ("mortal"). In Greek and Roman mythology, only the immortals-gods and goddesses-could eat ambrosia. Those mythological gods and goddesses also drank nectar, the original sense of which refers to the "drink of the gods." Nectar (in Greek, nektar) may have implied immortality as well; nektar is believed to have carried the literal meaning "overcoming death." While the ambrosia of the gods implied immortality, we mere mortals use ambrosia in reference to things that just taste or smell especially delicious. Similarly, nectar can now simply mean "something delicious to drink."

Origin and Etymology of ambrosia

Latin, from Greek, literally, immortality, from ambrotos immortal, from a- + -mbrotos (akin to brotos mortal) — more at murder

Other Mythology and Folklore Terms

elysian, fay, muse, nimbus, phoenix

Medical Dictionary

Ambrosia

noun Am·bro·sia \ am-ˈbrō-zh(ē-)ə \

medical Definition of Ambrosia

: a genus of mostly American composite herbs that includes the ragweeds

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