ambrosia: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2literary, poetic, mythological, culinary
Quick answer
What does “ambrosia” mean?
In Greek mythology, the food or drink of the gods, conferring immortality.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
In Greek mythology, the food or drink of the gods, conferring immortality; by extension, something extremely pleasing to taste or smell.
Any food or drink with an exquisite or divine flavour; an aromatic fruit salad often containing citrus, coconut, and marshmallows; in botany, a genus of ragweed.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK usage is almost exclusively mythological/literary. US usage retains the literary meaning but also has a strong culinary sense for a specific dessert.
Connotations
UK: evocative of classical mythology, often high-brow. US: can be nostalgic, associated with holiday potlucks and family gatherings alongside its literary use.
Frequency
More common in US English due to the culinary term. In UK English, it is a rare, elevated word.
Grammar
How to Use “ambrosia” in a Sentence
The {fruit/N} was sheer ambrosia.They feasted on ambrosia and nectar.She prepared her famous ambrosia for the picnic.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ambrosia” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The ambrosial scent of the flowers filled the garden.
American English
- The ambrosial aroma of peach cobbler wafted from the kitchen.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used, except metaphorically in marketing for luxurious food/drink products.
Academic
Common in Classics, Literature, and History papers discussing Greek/Roman mythology.
Everyday
Used humorously or hyperbolically to describe exceptionally good food. In US, can refer to the specific dessert.
Technical
In botany: a genus of flowering plants in the aster family (ragweeds).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ambrosia”
- Confusing 'ambrosia' (noun) with 'ambrosial' (adjective). Incorrect: 'The cake was absolutely ambrosia.' Correct: 'The cake was ambrosial.' or 'The cake was like ambrosia.'
- Misspelling as 'ambroisa' or 'ambrosiah'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Its primary meaning is mythological (divine food), but it is also a botanical term for ragweed and, in the US, the name of a specific dessert salad.
Yes, but often humorously or hyperbolically. Saying 'This chocolate is ambrosia!' is an exaggerated compliment. Using it literally outside a mythological discussion is rare.
In mythology, ambrosia was typically the food of the gods, while nectar was their drink. Both conferred immortality. In modern usage, 'nectar' is often used for delicious drinks (fruit nectar), while 'ambrosia' is for food or a general sense of divine flavour.
'Ambrosia salad' emerged in the late 19th/early 20th century in the US as a name for a sweet, creamy fruit salad, marketing it as a heavenly or divine treat, thus borrowing the mythological term's connotations.
In Greek mythology, the food or drink of the gods, conferring immortality.
Ambrosia is usually literary, poetic, mythological, culinary in register.
Ambrosia: in British English it is pronounced /æmˈbrəʊziə/, and in American English it is pronounced /æmˈbroʊʒə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “nectar and ambrosia (the perfect food and drink of the gods)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'AM' (morning) + 'BROS' (brothers/friends) + 'IA' (a place) - imagine a heavenly breakfast (food of the gods) shared with friends in a perfect place.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIVINE FOOD IS IMMORTALITY / EXCELLENCE IS DIVINE
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'ambrosia' LEAST likely to be used?