mercury

mer·cu·ry | \ ˈmər-kyə-rē

, -k(ə-)rē \

plural mercuries

Definition of mercury

1a capitalized : a Roman god of commerce, eloquence, travel, cunning, and theft who serves as messenger to the other gods — compare hermes

b often capitalized, archaic : a bearer of messages or news or a conductor of travelers

2 [Middle English mercurie, from Medieval Latin mercurius, from Latin, the god]

a : a silver-white poisonous heavy metallic element that is liquid at ordinary temperatures and is used especially in batteries, in dental amalgam, and in scientific instruments

— called also quicksilver

— see Chemical Elements Table

b : the column of mercury in a thermometer or barometer also : temperature the mercury rose above 70 degrees

3 capitalized : the planet nearest the sun — see Planets Table

Examples of mercury in a Sentence

In the summer, the mercury can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Recent Examples on the Web In 1980 and 1988, the mercury reached or topped 90 for a record three weeks straight. — Ian Livingston, Washington Post, "D.C. streak of hot weather hits historic territory, and the worst may be yet to come," 9 July 2020 Attorneys general from more than a dozen states, led by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, are intervening to protect Obama-era limits on power plants’ mercury and air toxics from a coal industry challenge. — Josh Siegel, Washington Examiner, "Daily on Energy, presented by API: Stacey Abrams-led group accuses utilities of holding up climate policy in the South," 23 June 2020 The East Lansing waste-water treatment plant mishandled a mercury spill at the plant. — Megan Garber, The Atlantic, "The National Emergency at Your Doorstep," 11 July 2020 But near one of those mines, Greens Creek in Alaska, there have been reports of high levels of mercury in the surrounding area. — Jack Brook, The Christian Science Monitor, "Conservation vs. copper: Minnesota town debates its future with a mine," 2 July 2020 The pretty red mineral, which produces such lovely shades when mixed with iron oxide, is actually mercury sulfide. — Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "Mercury and algal blooms poisoned Maya reservoirs at Tikal," 30 June 2020 Skin-lightening products, which often contain hydroquinone or mercury, remain largely unregulated and researchers are still determining the full extent of the risks for people who use them. — Thatiana Diaz, refinery29.com, "The Skin-Lightening Industry Is Facing A Long Overdue Reckoning," 26 June 2020 Prospectors face all the usual environmental hazards of gold mining, principally exposure to mercury. — Paul Salopek, National Geographic, "Hunting for particles of gold in the jungles of Southeast Asia," 24 June 2020 Even small-scale plants emit pollutants that include mercury, lead, and harmful particulates. — Jane Braxton Little, Wired, "The Debate Over Burning Dead Trees to Create Biomass Energy," 27 June 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mercury.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.