noun
Historical or fantasy practice of transmuting base metals into gold, or seeking a universal elixir. Also used metaphorically for any seemingly magical transformation.
中世ヨーロッパでは、錬金術が盛んに研究された。
In medieval Europe, alchemy was actively studied.
彼はまるで錬
He turned his idea into a fortune, as if by alchemy.
noun
way of making money; moneymaker
Figurative extension: a method or scheme for generating wealth, often with a connotation of being clever or slightly dubious. Not a literal reference to alchemy.
彼にとって、株のデイトレードは現代の錬金術だ。
For him, day trading stocks is modern-day alchemy.