Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - magic

~1 n 1 a secret power used to control events or do impossible things, by saying special words or performing special actions  (Do you believe in magic? | work/do magic)  (tales of wizards who could work magic)  (- see also black magic, white magic) 2 a special, attractive or exciting quality  (These old stories still retain their magic.) 3 the skill of doing tricks that look like magic, used by a magician, or the tricks a magician does 4 like magic/as if by magic in a surprising way that seems impossible to explain  (The bottle had disappeared as if by magic. | work like magic (=be very effective)) ~2 adj 1 only before noun having special powers that are not normal or natural, so that you can do impossible things  (There is no magic formula for instant success. | magic spell/charm etc)  (a magic hat that makes her invisible | magic trick (=a trick in which something happens in a way that seems impossible to explain))  (His best magic trick is sawing a lady in half.) 2 magic number/word a number or word that is very important or that has a powerful effect on people 3 have a magic touch to have a special ability to make things work well or to make people happy  (The baby's always quiet for Gary - he has a magic touch.) 4 BrE spoken very good or very enjoyable  ("Did you have a good time?" "Yeah, it was magic!") 5 magic bullet informal a quick, painless cure for illness, or something that solves a difficult problem in an easy way ~3 v magicked, magicking BrE magic sth/sb away phr v to make someone or something disappear by using magic  (I wish I could magic us away to a warm beach.) magic sth up phr v to make something appear suddenly and unexpectedly