mercury Meaning & Definition
What Does Mercury Mean?
As a noun, mercury means Senses relating to the metal. A silvery-coloured, metallic chemical element with the atomic number 80; it is liquid at room temperature, and toxic. It can also mean A silvery-coloured, metallic chemical element with the atomic number 80; it is liquid at room temperature, and toxic. As a verb, it means To apply or coat (something) with mercury (noun sense 1) or a preparation containing mercury. , to apply to (the face) a preparation of mercury to beautify it.
Mercury: Key Facts
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈmɜːkjʊ.ɹi/ |
| Syllables | 2 |
| Synonyms | quicksilver, atomic number 80 and hg |
| Plural | mercuries |
| Verb forms | mercuries, mercurying, mercuried |
Mercury Definition (Noun)
- Senses relating to the metal.
A silvery-coloured, metallic chemical element with the atomic number 80; it is liquid at room temperature, and toxic.
The mercury there has averaged 37.6°C, 2.3°C above the February norm.
- A silvery-coloured, metallic chemical element with the atomic number 80; it is liquid at room temperature, and toxic.
- Preceded by the: mercury (noun sense 1) as used in the column of a barometer or thermometer, its fall or rise thus indicating the decrease or increase of ambient pressure or temperature.
The mercury there has averaged 37.6°C, 2.3°C above the February norm.
- A preparation containing mercury (noun sense 1), especially calomel (mercurous chloride) or corrosive sublimate (mercuric chloride), formerly used as a medicine to treat syphilis, etc.
- One of the elemental principles formerly thought to be present in all metals.
- Liveliness, volatility.
- Senses relating to plants. An annual plant, now generally called annual mercury (Mercurialis annua), chiefly native to central and southern Europe which was formerly grown for its medicinal properties; French mercury, herb mercury.
- An annual plant, now generally called annual mercury (Mercurialis annua), chiefly native to central and southern Europe which was formerly grown for its medicinal properties; French mercury, herb mercury.
- Chiefly with a descriptive word. Any of several plants of the genus Mercurialis; specifically , dog's mercury or wild mercury (Mercurialis perennis). Any of several plants resembling Mercurialis plants but of a different genus, or having similar medicinal or toxic qualities as annual mercury or dog's mercury. Allgood or Good King Henry (Blitum bonus-henricus), a species of goosefoot native to central and southern Europe formerly cultivated as a vegetable but now generally regarded as a weed; English mercury, false mercury . Poison ivy or poison oak (genus Toxicodendron, especially the eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) or Atlantic poison oak (Toxicodendron pubescens)).
- Any of several plants of the genus Mercurialis; specifically , dog's mercury or wild mercury (Mercurialis perennis).
- Any of several plants resembling Mercurialis plants but of a different genus, or having similar medicinal or toxic qualities as annual mercury or dog's mercury. Allgood or Good King Henry (Blitum bonus-henricus), a species of goosefoot native to central and southern Europe formerly cultivated as a vegetable but now generally regarded as a weed; English mercury, false mercury . Poison ivy or poison oak (genus Toxicodendron, especially the eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) or Atlantic poison oak (Toxicodendron pubescens)).
- Allgood or Good King Henry (Blitum bonus-henricus), a species of goosefoot native to central and southern Europe formerly cultivated as a vegetable but now generally regarded as a weed; English mercury, false mercury .
- Poison ivy or poison oak (genus Toxicodendron, especially the eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) or Atlantic poison oak (Toxicodendron pubescens)).
Mercury as a Verb
- To apply or coat (something) with mercury (noun sense 1) or a preparation containing mercury. , to apply to (the face) a preparation of mercury to beautify it
- , to apply to (the face) a preparation of mercury to beautify it
- To administer to (someone) a medicine containing mercury.
Noun
- A metal.
- Any of several types of plant.
Synonyms of Mercury
Mercury synonyms and antonyms →Mercury in a Sentence
The mercury there has averaged 37.6°C, 2.3°C above the February norm.
Word Forms & Grammar
mercury (countable and uncountable, plural mercuries)
mercury (third-person singular simple present mercuries, present participle mercurying, simple past and past participle mercuried)
Origin of Mercury
Origin 1: The noun is derived from Middle English mercurie (“metallic chemical element, quicksilver; a plant, probably goosefoot (genus Chenopodium); (possibly) dog’s mercury (Mercurialis perennis); etc.”),[1] borrowed from Late Latin mercurius (“metallic chemical element, quicksilver”), Latin Mercurius (“Mercury, the Roman god of commerce, communication, etc.; the planet Mercury; etc.”), possibly from merc-, a stem of merx (“goods, wares; merchandise”);[2] further etymology uncertain, possibly:
Origin 2: The suffix -urius is also thought to be from Etruscan.[2]
Origin 3: Noun sense 1 (“metallic chemical element”) is from the association in medieval alchemy of the seven known metals—gold, silver, quicksilver, copper, iron, tin, and lead—with the Sun, the Moon, and the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. An analogy was probably also drawn between the element being liquid at room temperature, and the Roman god Mercury’s attribute of swiftness.[2]
Origin 4: Noun sense 2 (“senses relating to plants”) is derived from mercurial (“(obsolete) any of the plants now known as mercury”, noun),[2] from Middle English mercurial (“a plant, probably goosefoot (genus Chenopodium); (possibly) dog’s mercury (Mercurialis perennis)”, noun)[3] from Anglo-Norman mercurial, Old French mercurial, or directly from their etymon Latin mercuriālis (“a plant, probably annual mercury (Mercurialis annua)”), short for herba mercuriālis (“(probably) annual mercury”, literally “herb or plant of the god Mercury”). Mercuriālis (“pertaining to the Roman god Mercury”, adjective) is derived from Mercurius (“the Roman god Mercury”) (see above) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship from nouns).[4]
How to Pronounce Mercury
Mercury is pronounced /ˈmɜːkjʊ.ɹi/ and has 2 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (mɜːkjʊ).
Quick Answers About Mercury
Is mercury a noun or a verb?
Mercury is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for mercury?
Words with a similar meaning to mercury include quicksilver, atomic number 80 and hg. See the full list of mercury synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of mercury?
The plural of mercury is mercuries.
What is the past tense of mercury?
The past tense of mercury is mercuried. The present participle is mercurying.