# magic

/ˈmædʒɪk/ (US) · /mˈædʒɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/magic
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. supernatural power

noun · CEFR B1

the power to use spirits or secret forces to make impossible things happen.

For teachers: the use of rituals or supernatural forces to influence events or manipulate the natural world.

- In the story, the wizard used magic to turn the prince into a frog.
- Ancient myths often depict magic as a double-edged sword that requires great sacrifice from those who attempt to master it.

### 2. entertainment tricks

noun · CEFR B1

clever tricks that look like magic, performed to entertain people.

For teachers: the art of performing illusions and sleight of hand for the purpose of entertainment.

- The children watched in wonder as the performer did a magic trick with a coin.
- The magician's assistant played a crucial role in the stage magic, distracting the audience during the most difficult part of the illusion.

### 3. special quality

noun · CEFR B2

a special or exciting quality that makes something wonderful.

For teachers: an enchanting or extraordinary quality that produces remarkable results or emotional impact.

- There was a certain magic in the air during their first walk through Paris.
- The director managed to capture the magic of the original novel without relying on expensive special effects.

### 4. supernatural or mysterious

adjective · CEFR B1

having special powers or used in magic.

For teachers: possessing or relating to supernatural powers or mysterious qualities.

- She found a magic lamp hidden in the back of the dusty shop.
- The hero had to find a magic sword before he could face the dragon in its lair.

### 5. excellent

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal · British English

very good or wonderful.

For teachers: denoting excellence or high quality; used as a general term of approval.

- We had a magic time at the concert last night.
- It would be absolutely magic if we could finish the project ahead of schedule and take Friday off.

### 6. unexplained code or values

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

in computer science, a number or value that works but has no clear explanation.

For teachers: referring to a literal value or string in code that lacks context or definition as a constant.

- The programmer was told to replace the magic numbers with named constants.
- Hard-coding magic strings into the application makes the software significantly harder to maintain and debug in the long run.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'magic number'.

### 7. to make appear suddenly

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to make something appear or happen very quickly, as if by magic.

For teachers: to produce, move, or change something through seemingly supernatural means or sudden effort.

- I don't know how she did it, but she magicked up a delicious meal in ten minutes.
- The accountant seemed to magic away the discrepancies in the budget before the auditors arrived.

Usage: Often used with 'up' or 'away'.

## Examples

- The children watched in awe as the performer performed magic.
- There was a certain magic in the air as the sun began to set over the ancient ruins.
- While the plot follows standard fantasy tropes, the author infuses the prose with a lyrical magic that elevates the story into something truly profound.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.