mercury
3 synonyms for mercury, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A heavy, silvery metallic element that is liquid at room temperature and highly toxic; also called quicksilver.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use mercury
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
mercury poisoning
the mercury rises
mercury thermometer
Etymology
From Middle English mercurie, ultimately named after the Roman god Mercury, likely because of the metal's quick, fluid movement.
Full origin of mercury →Frequently asked questions
What does “mercury” mean?
The word “mercury” means a heavy, silvery metallic element that is liquid at room temperature and highly toxic; also called quicksilver. In plain terms, a toxic liquid metal, or informally, the temperature itself.
How do you pronounce “mercury”?
“Mercury” is pronounced MURK-yuu-ree (/ˈmɜɹkjəɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “mercury” in a sentence?
Here is “mercury” used in a sentence: “Old thermometers used mercury, which is why they're rarely made that way anymore.”
What part of speech is “mercury”?
“Mercury” is a noun.
Where does the word “mercury” come from?
The word “mercury” comes from Middle English. From Middle English mercurie, ultimately named after the Roman god Mercury, likely because of the metal's quick, fluid movement.
Is “mercury” a common word?
“Mercury” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “mercury” have?
“Mercury” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a heavy, silvery metallic element that is liquid at room temperature and highly toxic; also called quicksilver.
Why is mercury called quicksilver?
Quicksilver is an older name for mercury, describing a silvery metal that is liquid at room temperature and flows readily. It uses an old sense of "quick" meaning alive or moving, because the liquid metal seems to move as if alive.
When should mercury be capitalised?
Use lowercase mercury for the metal and for the thermometer reading. Capitalise Mercury when referring to the planet or the Roman god, since those are proper nouns.
Is mercury dangerous?
Yes. Mercury is a highly toxic element, which is why spills from broken thermometers need careful cleanup and why its use in everyday products has declined. Its toxicity is a defining fact about the metal alongside its unusual liquid state.
