psychedelic

From Ancient Greek ψυχή (psukhḗ, “mind, soul”) + δῆλος (dêlos, “manifest, visible”) + -ic. Coined by English psychiatrist Humphry Osmond in 1956 in a letter to Aldous Huxley.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈsaɪ.kəˌdɛl.ɪk/, /ˈsaɪ.kɪˌdɛl.ɪk/
• (US) enPR: sī'kĭ-děl'ĭk

• Audio (AU)

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psychedelic (comparative more psychedelic, superlative most psychedelic)

1. Of, containing, generating, or reminiscent of drug-induced hallucinations, distortions of perception, altered awareness etc.

   Synonyms: lysergic, trippy

   • 1967, Joe David Brown, editor, The Hippies, New York: Time, Inc, page 2:

     With those drugs has come the psychedelic philosophy, an impassioned belief in the self-revealing, mind-expanding powers of potent weeds and seeds and chemical compounds known to man since prehistory but wholly alien to the rationale of Western society.

2. (of graphics, etc.) Having bright colours, abstract shapes, etc. reminiscent of drug-induced hallucinations or distortions of perception.

   Synonym: multi-coloured

psychedelic (plural psychedelics)

1. Any psychoactive substance (such as LSD or psilocybin) which, when consumed, causes perceptual changes (sometimes erratic and uncontrollable), visual hallucination, and altered awareness of the body and mind.
   • 2006, Dean McCormick, Dead End Street, page 62:

     I was going to become a three-drug connection to all my friends, psychedelics, hash and pot.

psychedelic

1. (hippie slang) awesome, cool, groovy

• psychedelia