noun
cinnabar
Cinnabar (noun) means a dark red mineral made of mercury sulfide, mined as the main source of mercury and used to make a red pigment.
noun
1
A dark red mineral made of mercury sulfide, mined as the main source of mercury and used to make a red pigment.
2
A bright reddish-orange colour.
3
A moth with red markings on its mostly black wings.
"There are a few day-flying exceptions such as hummingbird hawk-moths, silver Ys, cinnabars, scarlet tigers and burnets but, in general, knowledge of moths lags behind that of butterflies."
— Norman Maclean, A Less Green and Pleasant Land (2015)
4
Another name for dragon's blood, a type of resin.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like cinnabar.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Etymology
First recorded in the mid-15th century, it came from Middle English cynabare, from Old French cinabre, from Latin cinnabaris, from Ancient Greek κιννάβαρι (kinnábari), itself of unknown origin.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of cinnabar?
"cinnabar" (noun) means a dark red mineral made of mercury sulfide, mined as the main source of mercury and used to make a red pigment.
What are the different meanings of cinnabar?
"cinnabar" has 3 main meanings: 1. A dark red mineral made of mercury sulfide, mined as the main source of mercury and used to make a red pigment; 2. A bright reddish-orange colour; 3. A moth with red markings on its mostly black wings.
