mercury
/ˈmɜː.kjə.ri/ (bre, ipa) · [mˈɚkjɚi] /ˈmɝː.kjə.ri/ (ame, ipa) · [mˈɚkjɚi] /ˈmər-kyə-rē -k(ə-)rē/ (ame, mw)
mercury — noun
1. a poisonous silver metal that stays liquid at room temperature and was once used
a poisonous silver metal that stays liquid at room temperature and was once used in thermometers, switches, and some batteries.
The broken thermometer leaked mercury onto the bathroom floor.
common context: mercury inside a thermometer
Workers wore thick gloves while moving the old jar of mercury.
handle mercury carefully because it is dangerous
Our science teacher showed us mercury sealed inside a glass tube.
The factory closed after mercury was found in the nearby river.
- quicksilver
an older or more literary name for the same metal
文法句型
contain mercury
mercury in [object]
mercury thermometer
用法筆記
Usually uncountable when it means the substance itself. In modern everyday use, people most often meet the word in safety warnings, science classes, and names such as mercury thermometer.
常見錯誤
2. the smallest planet in our solar system and the one that travels nearest to the
the smallest planet in our solar system and the one that travels nearest to the Sun.
Bao read that Mercury goes around the Sun in only eighty-eight days.
Mercury goes around the Sun very quickly
Before sunrise, Christopher saw Mercury low in the eastern sky.
Mercury appears low in the sky before sunrise
The textbook compared Mercury's rocky surface with the Moon's.
Scientists sent a probe to take pictures of Mercury's craters.
文法句型
Mercury + verb (third person singular)
on Mercury
surface of Mercury
用法筆記
Usually written with a capital M when it names the planet. In school science, Mercury is grouped with the rocky inner planets rather than the gas giants.
常見錯誤
3. according to ancient Roman stories, the god Mercury carried messages for the oth
according to ancient Roman stories, the god Mercury carried messages for the other gods and was linked with trade, travel, and clever theft.
In the painting, Mercury is shown with winged sandals and a staff.
common image: Mercury with winged sandals
Traders prayed to Mercury before starting the journey home.
pray to Mercury before a trip
The guide said the statue of Mercury once stood above the market gate.
In the story, Mercury warned the hero before the dangerous trip.
- Hermes
the Greek god who most closely matches Mercury
文法句型
Mercury + verb (third person singular)
pray to Mercury
statue of Mercury
用法筆記
Usually capitalized and mostly used in discussions of Roman mythology, art, or literature. The closest Greek equivalent is Hermes.