From Medieval Latin elixir, from Arabic إكسير, from Ancient Greek ξηρίον, from ξηρός ("dry").

• IPA: /ɪˈlɪksə(ɹ)/, /ə-/, /-ɪə(ɹ)/

elixir (plural elixirs)

1. (alchemy) A liquid which converts lead to gold.
   • 2002, Philip Ball, The Elements: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford, published 2004, page 59:

     For Chinese alchemists, gold held the key to the Elixir, the Eastern equivalent of the Philosopher's Stone.

2. (alchemy) A substance or liquid which is believed to cure all ills and give eternal life.
3. (by extension) The alleged cure for all ailments; cure-all, panacea.
   • 2015, The Boston Globe, Steven Pinker, The moral imperative for bioethics‎:

     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.

4. (pharmacy) 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.
   • 1906, JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, volume 47, pages 872–875:

     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.

• German: Elixier
• Italian: elisir
• Portuguese: elixir
• Russian: эликси́р
• Spanish: elixir

• German: Elixier, Zaubertrunk, Heilmittel
• Italian: elisir
• Portuguese: elixir
• Russian: эликси́р
• Spanish: elixir

• French: élixir
• German: Elixier, Heilmittel
• Italian: elisir
• Portuguese: elixir
• Russian: эликси́р