Am*bro"sia (?; 277), n. [L. ambrosia, Gr. &?;, properly fem. of &?;, fr. &?; immortal, divine; 'a priv. + &?; mortal (because it was supposed to confer immortality on those who partook of it). &?; stands for &?;, akin to Skr. mrita, L. mortuus, dead, and to E. mortal.]
1. (Myth.)
(a)
The fabled food of the gods (as nectar was their drink), which conferred immortality upon those who partook of it.
(b)
An unguent of the gods.
His dewy locks distilled ambrosia.
Milton.
2.
A perfumed unguent, salve, or draught; something very pleasing to the taste or smell. Spenser.
3.
Formerly, a kind of fragrant plant; now (Bot.), a genus of plants, including some coarse and worthless weeds, called ragweed, hogweed, etc.
© Webster 1913
Am*bro"sia (?), n. (Zoöl.)
The food of certain small bark beetles, family Scolytidæ believed to be fungi cultivated by the beetles in their burrows.
© Webster 1913