mercury

/ˈmɜːrkjəri/
noun
  1. A heavy, silvery liquid metal that is used in thermometers and some electrical switches.
    • Mercury is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature.
    • The old thermometer broke, and small beads of mercury rolled across the floor.
    • Workers in the factory had to be careful not to spill any mercury.
  2. The smallest planet in our solar system and the closest to the sun.
    • Mercury is so close to the sun that its surface can reach over 800 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • You can sometimes see Mercury just after sunset near the horizon.
    • The spacecraft sent back images of Mercury's cratered surface.
  3. A chemical element with the symbol Hg, used in science and industry.
    • The periodic table shows mercury with the symbol Hg.
    • Some old batteries contained mercury, but modern ones usually do not.
    • Scientists study how mercury moves through the environment.
  4. A Roman god who was the messenger of the gods, known for being fast and clever.
    • Mercury was also the god of travelers, merchants, and thieves.
    • In Roman mythology, Mercury wore winged sandals to travel quickly.
    • The statue in the garden was a replica of the god Mercury.
Synonyms
What does "mercury" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean