English Reference

Word

mercury

Phoneticsmer·cury

US/ˈmɝkjɝi/

UK/mˈɜːkjʊɹi/

Definitions

01the liquid metal

B1 · Science

n. a heavy, silver-colored metal that is liquid at room temperature.

n. a heavy, silvery-white metallic element that is liquid at standard conditions; often referred to as quicksilver.

“Old thermometers used mercury to show the temperature, but modern ones are safer.”

“The environmental agency issued a warning regarding high levels of mercury found in predatory fish species near the industrial site.”

Technical

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the element itself; countable when referring to a column of the metal in a measuring instrument.

Synonyms

quicksilverhydrargyrum

02the planet

B1 · Astronomy

n. the smallest planet in our solar system and the one closest to the Sun.

n. the innermost and smallest planet in the Solar System, characterized by a rocky surface and extreme temperature fluctuations.

“Mercury is very difficult to see from Earth because it stays so close to the Sun.”

“Data from the space probe revealed that Mercury possesses a surprisingly strong magnetic field for a planet of its size.”

Usage

Always capitalized as a proper noun.

03the Roman god

C1 · Religion

n. the Roman god of travel, business, and speed, known for his winged shoes.

n. the Roman deity of commerce, travel, and thievery, serving as the messenger of the gods.

“In ancient stories, Mercury wore a winged hat and sandals to fly quickly.”

“The statue depicted Mercury in a dynamic pose, emphasizing the agility and speed associated with the divine messenger.”

Literary

Usage

Always capitalized as a proper noun.

Synonyms

04a messenger

C2

n. a person who carries news or messages from one place to another.

n. a bearer of news or a messenger; a person who delivers tidings.

“The young mercury ran through the streets to deliver the urgent letter.”

“The poet described the wind as a swift mercury, carrying the scent of rain across the parched valley.”

Archaic · Literary

Teaching tip

This sense is rare in modern speech; learners will mostly encounter it in 19th-century literature or classical poetry.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English Mercurie, from Latin Mercurius.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

mercurialAdjectivemercuryNoun

Domains

AstronomyChemistryMedicine

This entry

Level
B1 · Intermediate
Frequency
Common
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/mercury

English Reference