ambrosia
/æmˈbrəʊziə/ (bre, ipa) · [æmbrˈoʒə] /æmˈbrəʊʒə/ (ame, ipa) · [æmbrˈoʒə] /am-ˈbrō-zh(ē-)ə How to pronounce ambrosia (audio)/ (ame, mw)
ambrosia — noun
1. in ancient stories, a special food for the gods that was said to keep them alive
in ancient stories, a special food for the gods that was said to keep them alive forever.
In the mural, Hera served ambrosia to the heroes after the battle.
mythology context: ambrosia as food served to gods or heroes
In class, Aarav described ambrosia as the meal that kept the gods alive.
The poem says one drop of ambrosia gave the wounded hero new life.
At the museum, Joon pointed to a vase showing Zeus with ambrosia.
- nectar
in myth this usually refers to the gods' drink, not their food
用法筆記
Mostly found in retellings of Greek or Roman myth. It often appears beside nectar, which in many stories names the gods' drink rather than their food.
2. food that seems wonderfully good to eat or smell, especially when it brings stro
food that seems wonderfully good to eat or smell, especially when it brings strong pleasure or relief.
After two days of hiking, the hot soup tasted like ambrosia to Selim.
pattern: taste like ambrosia for extremely pleasant food
Grandpa called Eve's peach pie ambrosia and asked for another slice.
To the hungry volunteers, even plain rice felt like ambrosia after the storm.
The smell of warm bread was ambrosia when Christopher came home late.
- slop
very informal word for food that seems unpleasant or messy
用法筆記
Usually appears in comparisons such as 'taste like ambrosia' when ordinary food seems exceptionally good. Distinguish from sense 3, which names a specific dessert rather than a general compliment.
3. a cold American dessert made with fruit pieces, usually mixed with coconut and o
a cold American dessert made with fruit pieces, usually mixed with coconut and often cream.
Amira brought ambrosia with oranges and coconut to the Thanksgiving dinner.
American holiday dish with fruit and coconut
Hoa chilled the ambrosia overnight so the fruit and cream could set.
At the church picnic, Reuben served pink ambrosia in small paper cups.
The recipe adds marshmallows to ambrosia, but Antonia leaves them out.
- fruit salad
broader term; not every fruit salad includes coconut or cream
用法筆記
Mainly American and often linked with holiday meals, church suppers, or older family recipes. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense names the dessert itself.