Definition of alchemy Alchemy

/æˈlkʌmi/ - [atlkumee] - al•che•my

We found 13 definitions of alchemy from 8 different sources.

What does alchemy mean?

WordNet

Noun Plural: alchemies
alchemy - a pseudoscientific forerunner of chemistry in medieval times
		pseudoscience an activity resembling science but based on fallacious assumptions
alchemy - the way two individuals relate to each other; "their chemistry was wrong from the beginning -- they hated each other"; "a mysterious alchemy brought them together"
		chemistry, interpersonal chemistry

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Wiktionary

alchemy (Noun)
The ancient search for a universal panacea, and of the philosopher's stone , that eventually developed into chemistry.
alchemy (Noun)
The causing of any sort of mysterious sudden transmutation.
alchemy (Noun)
Any elaborate transformation process or algorithm.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

alchemy (n.)
An imaginary art which aimed to transmute the baser metals into gold, to find the panacea, or universal remedy for diseases, etc. It led the way to modern chemistry.
alchemy (n.)
A mixed metal composed mainly of brass, formerly used for various utensils; hence, a trumpet.
alchemy (n.)
Miraculous power of transmuting something common into something precious.

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

alchemy
An early proto-scientific practice combining elements of chemistry, physics, astrology, art, semiotics, metallurgy, medicine, mysticism, and religion.

Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕

alchemy
Alchymy, al′ki-mi, n. the infant stage of chemistry, as astrology was of astronomy.—A chief pursuit of the alchemists was to transmute the other metals into gold, and to discover the elixir of life.—adj. Alchem′ic—n. Al′chemist, one skilled in alchemy. [Ar. Al-kīmīā—al, the, and kīmīā—late Gr. chēmeia, 'transmution,' prob. as specially an Egyptian art, from Khem, the native name of Egypt; confused with Gr. chūmeia, pouring, from chein, to pour, hence the old spellings alchymy, chymistry.]

Proverbs DictionaryProverbs Dictionary 📗

alchemy
No alchemy like saving.

Wikipedia

Alchemy is a study of the basic elements called fire, water, earth and air. It is the study of transmutation. It was first studied to learn how to change lead into gold. It is similar to chemistry, but much older. People who studied alchemy were called "alchemists".

Alchemists in the Middle Ages often tried to make gold using things that were not gold. They also tried to make the Elixir of Life (which would give the gift of immortality). Many times alchemists would use stories and legends to try to veil (cover up) how to make gold. The psychologist Carl Gustav Jung was interested in this as well but in relation to the soul of man. Alchemists are objective (they deal with external existence) while psychologists are subjective (they deal with the inner life of man). Alchemists deal with the First Matter (a substance that makes transmutation easy) while Psychology deals with the mind. A famous saying in Alchemy: "As above, so below" veils the relationship existing between Alchemy and Psychology.

Alchemy is not a science any more. Some things that the alchemists learned about were important for other sciences, like chemistry.

In 1980, an American scientist named Glenn Seaborg actually changed a very tiny amount of bismuth into gold with a nuclear reactor. But it cost much more to transform the energy to do this than the tiny amount of gold was worth. This is the closest a scientist has come to discover the Philosopher's Stone of the ancient Alchemists. The Philosopher's Stone is