Mercury

Pronunciation: /ˈmɜːr.kjʊ.ri/

Definitions of mercury

noun the planet closest to the sun in our solar system

Example Sentences

A1 Mercury is a planet in our solar system.

A2 Thermometers used to contain mercury, but now they use safer alternatives.

B1 Exposure to mercury can be harmful to your health.

B2 The liquid metal mercury is often used in barometers.

C1 Mercury is known for its high toxicity and ability to bioaccumulate in food chains.

C2 The element mercury has a unique property of being a liquid at room temperature.

Examples of mercury in a Sentence

formal Mercury is a heavy, silvery-white liquid metal known for its high thermal and electrical conductivity.

informal I heard that mercury is really toxic if you come into contact with it.

slang Don't mess with mercury, man. It's dangerous stuff.

figurative The mercury in the thermometer rose rapidly as the temperature increased throughout the day.

Grammatical Forms of mercury

• past tense: mercuryed
• plural: mercuries
• comparative: more mercury
• superlative: most mercury
• present tense: mercuries
• future tense: will mercury
• perfect tense: have mercuried
• continuous tense: is mercurying
• singular: mercury
• positive degree: mercury
• infinitive: to mercury
• gerund: mercurying
• participle: mercuryed

Origin and Evolution of mercury

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'mercury' originated from the Latin word 'mercurius', which was the name of the Roman god associated with commerce, eloquence, and communication.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'mercury' evolved to also refer to the chemical element with the symbol Hg, which comes from the element's Latin name 'hydrargyrum'. The association with the Roman god Mercury led to the element being named after him due to its fluidity and quicksilver-like properties.