mercury

mer•cu•ry

[[t]ˈmɜr kyə ri[/t]] n. pl. -ries

1) chem. a heavy, silver-white, toxic metallic element, liquid at room temperature: used in barometers, thermometers, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, mirror surfaces, and as a laboratory catalyst; quicksilver

Symbol: Hg; at. wt.: 200.59; at. no.: 80; sp. gr.: 13.546 at 20°C; freezing point: −38.9°C; boiling point: 357°C.

2) pha this metal as used in medicine, in the form of various compounds, usu. for skin infections

3) mer temperature:

The mercury climbed to over a hundred today[/ex]

4) myt (cap.) the Roman god of commerce, thievery, eloquence, and science, and messenger to the other gods: identified with the Greek god Hermes

5) astron. (cap.) the planet nearest the sun, having a diameter of 3031 mi. (4878 km), a mean distance from the sun of 36 million mi. (57.9 million km), and a period of revolution of 87.96 days, and having no satellites

6) pln any plant belonging to the genus Mercurialis, of the spurge family, esp. the poisonous, weedy M. perennis of Europe

7) pln any of several common weeds with spinachlike leaves, esp. weeds of the goosefoot family

8) a messenger

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Etymology: 1300–50; ME Mercurie < ML, L Mercurius, akin to merx goods