Ambrosia
Webster's Dictionary [1]
(1): (n.) The food of certain small bark beetles, family Scolytidae believed to be fungi cultivated by the beetles in their burrows.
(2): (n.) The fabled food of the gods (as nectar was their drink), which conferred immortality upon those who partook of it.
(3): (n.) Formerly, a kind of fragrant plant; now (Bot.), a genus of plants, including some coarse and worthless weeds, called ragweed, hogweed, etc.
(4): (n.) An unguent of the gods.
(5): (n.) A perfumed unguent, salve, or draught; something very pleasing to the taste or smell.
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [2]
in pagan mythology, was
(1) the name of the food of the deities, which gave eternal youth and immortality. This was conceived of as something material; and ambrosia is not only the food of the gods, but also the drink of the gods, as later writers have it. Homer also represents the gods as giving it to some of their favorites, as to Achilles; animals were also refreshed by it. Ambrosia is also a salve of the deities, which possesses the power of cleansing in a high degree; likewise an ointment for the hair.
(2) One of the Pleiades, the daughter of Atlas and Pleione.
(3) Festivals held in honor of Bacchus in some cities of Greece, the same as the Brumalia of the Romans.
