I. Lit., ambrosia, the food of the gods (as nectar was their drink): “non enim ambrosiā deos aut nectare laetari arbitror,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 26, 65; Ov. P. 1, 10, 11: “Suaviolum dulci dulcius ambrosiā,” Cat. 99, 2.—Hence: orator ambrosiā alendus, prov. once in Cic., qs. a god among orators, of a distinguished orator (opp. faenum esse), Cic. de Or. 2, 57.— Also food for the steeds of the gods: “equos ambrosiae suco saturos,” Ov. M. 2, 120; 4, 215 (acc. to Hom. Il. 5, 368 and 369).—
II. Transf.
A. The unguent of the gods (so, ἀμβροσία, Hom. Il. 14, 170; “16, 670): ambrosiā cum dulci nectare mixtā Contigit os,” Ov. M. 14, 606: “liquidum ambrosiae diffundit odorem,” Verg. G. 4, 415; id. A. 12, 419.—
B. The name of several plants, esp. of the botrys or artemisia, Turkish mugwort: Choenopodium botrys, Linn.; Plin. 27, 4, 11, § 28.—Another plant of this name, Plin. 27, 8, 31, § 55.—
C. An antidote to poison, Cels. 5, 23.
