noun
Common
mercury
MURK-yuu-ree
Mercury (noun) means a heavy, silvery metallic element that is liquid at room temperature and highly toxic; also called quicksilver. Example: “A drop of mercury rolled across the table like a tiny silver ball.”
noun
1
A heavy, silvery metallic element that is liquid at room temperature and highly toxic; also called quicksilver.
"A drop of mercury rolled across the table like a tiny silver ball."
"Old thermometers used mercury, which is why they're rarely made that way anymore."
"Mercury from industrial waste can poison rivers and the fish in them."
2
Informal: the reading on a thermometer or barometer, as a stand-in for temperature or pressure.
"The mercury dropped sharply overnight, and we woke to frost on the windows."
"When the mercury rises this high, everyone heads to the beach."
"The mercury climbed past 40 degrees by noon."
How to use mercury
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA toxic liquid metal, or informally, the temperature itself.
Common mistake
Lowercase "mercury" is the metal; capitalized "Mercury" is the planet or the Roman god.
Common pairings
mercury poisoning
the mercury rises
mercury thermometer
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Word forms
- Plural
- mercuries
- Third person singular
- mercuries
- Past tense
- mercuried
Fill the gap
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A drop of _____ rolled across the table like a tiny silver ball.
Etymology
From Middle English mercurie, ultimately named after the Roman god Mercury, likely because of the metal's quick, fluid movement.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for mercury
See all rhymes for 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.
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