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Mercury (Noun)

A heavy silvery toxic univalent and bivalent metallic element; the only metal that is liquid at ordinary temperatures.

Nouns denoting substances.

Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that can damage the brain, nervous system, and kidneys.
The old thermometer contained a small amount of mercury that had to be disposed of carefully.
In ancient times, mercury was used in the production of felt hats, which led to widespread poisoning among hatters.
Mercury is often released into the environment through industrial processes, such as coal combustion and mining.
Exposure to mercury vapors can occur when a mercury-containing light bulb breaks and the toxic substance is released into the air.

(Roman mythology) messenger of Jupiter and god of commerce; counterpart of Greek Hermes.

Nouns denoting people.

The Roman poet Virgil invoked Mercury as a protector of travelers in his epic work the Aeneid.
In ancient Roman art, Mercury was often depicted as a swift and cunning youth, mirroring the attributes of the planet that bears his name.
The temple of Mercury was one of the oldest in Rome, founded during the time of the legendary King Romulus.
According to Roman mythology, Mercury's wand was so potent that it could move the rivers themselves.
The role of Mercury as the patron god of commerce made him an especially important figure in ancient Rome, where trade was the backbone of the economy.

The smallest planet and the nearest to the sun.

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made).

Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system and orbits the sun at an average distance of about 58 million kilometers.
The extreme proximity of Mercury to the sun results in extremely high temperatures during the day and freezing temperatures at night.
Mercury is a rocky planet with a thin atmosphere, composed mostly of helium and oxygen, which offers little protection from the sun's radiation.
Due to its small size and close proximity to the sun, Mercury has no moons and its surface is heavily cratered from asteroid and comet impacts.
The planet Mercury is named after the Roman messenger god, who was known for his speed and swiftness, reflecting the planet's extremely fast orbital period of just 88 Earth days.

Temperature measured by a mercury thermometer; "the mercury was falling rapidly".

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects.

The doctor shook the mercury thermometer to mix the liquid inside before taking the patient's temperature.
As the storm approached, the mercury in the barometer began to plummet, indicating a sharp drop in atmospheric pressure.
The mercury in the thermometer had been rising steadily all morning, and it was now higher than it had been all week.
The meteorologist watched anxiously as the mercury continued to fall, signaling a cold front moving into the area.
In the old days, people used to use mercury thermometers to check the temperature, but they've been largely replaced by digital ones now.