HOW TO PRONOUNCE
mercury
/ˈmɝ.kjə.ɹi/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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What does mercury mean?
noun
- 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.
- 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.
More meanings (17)
noun
- Any of several plants of the genus Mercurialis; specifically (obsolete), dog's mercury or wild mercury (Mercurialis perennis).
- 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 (obsolete).
- Poison ivy or poison oak (genus Toxicodendron, especially the eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) or Atlantic poison oak (Toxicodendron pubescens)).
- (historical) 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.
- (historical) One of the elemental principles formerly thought to be present in all metals.
- (figuratively, obsolete) Liveliness, volatility.
- (obsolete) Quicksilver, mercury. (No longer capitalized, as the name of the metal is no longer recognized as that of the planet.)
- (archaic) A newsboy, a messenger.
- (archaic) A footman.
- (archaic) Someone who carries messages between lovers; a go-between.
- (archaic) A newspaper.
proper noun
- The first planet in the Solar system with the closest orbit to the Sun, named after the god; represented by ☿.
- The Roman god associated with speed, sometimes used as a messenger, wearing winged sandals; the Roman counterpart of the Greek god Hermes.
- Ellipsis of Mercury Drug.
verb
- (historical) To apply or coat (something) with mercury (noun sense 1) or a preparation containing mercury.
- (historical, obsolete, rare) to apply to (the face) a preparation of mercury to beautify it
- (historical) To administer to (someone) a medicine containing mercury.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˈmɝ.kjə.ɹi/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
It is well known to the experienced Daguerreotypist, that different atmospheres have a decided effect upon the mercury in developing the Daguerreotype.
The mercury is eleven degrees below zero, and I have to keep my ink on the stove to prevent it from freezing.
More book examples (3)
Scores of globules of mercury soon appeared over a vesicated surface, the result of a previous blister applied to the epigastric region.
And this would not be surprising since it is well known that mercury has very similar effects upon the system as syphilis.
After removal from the bath, the coronet may be dressed with a moderately strong solution of carbolic acid or perchloride of mercury.