mercury
|mer-cu-ry|
🇺🇸
/ˈmɝkjəri/
🇬🇧
/ˈmɜːkjʊri/
swift, changeable
Etymology
'mercury' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'Mercurius', the name of the Roman god associated with commerce and messages.
'Mercurius' passed into Old French and Middle English as forms like 'Mercurie' or 'Mercurye' and eventually became the modern English word 'mercury'.
Initially it referred primarily to the Roman god; over time the name was also given to the planet and, separately, to the metal (quicksilver). Today it denotes the element, the planet, the mythological figure, and various proper names.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a silvery-white metallic chemical element (symbol Hg) that is liquid at room temperature; also called quicksilver.
The thermometer contains mercury.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the planet closest to the Sun; the smallest planet in the solar system.
Mercury orbits the Sun every 88 days.
Noun 3
in Roman mythology, the god Mercury (Mercurius), god of commerce, travel, and messenger of the gods (equivalent to the Greek Hermes).
In Roman myth, Mercury is a messenger of the gods.
Synonyms
Noun 4
a common name used for newspapers, businesses, or other proper nouns (e.g., The Mercury).
I read an article in the Mercury.
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/10/17 09:41