a heavy silvery toxic univalent and bivalent metallic element; the only metal that is liquid at ordinary temperatures
"The broken thermometer spilled mercury across the floor, creating a dangerous puddle of the liquid metal."
(Roman mythology) messenger of Jupiter and god of commerce; counterpart of Greek Hermes
"The artist named her shop Mercury to honor the Roman mythological deity who guided travelers and oversaw trade."
the smallest planet and the nearest to the sun
"Mercury is so close to the sun that it experiences extreme temperature swings between day and night."
A metal.
"The old newspaper vendor called himself Mercury because he was always rushing through the streets to deliver breaking news before anyone else."
A silvery-colored, toxic, metallic chemical element, liquid at room temperature, with atomic number 80 and symbol Hg.
A carrier of tidings; a newsboy, a messenger.
In plain English: Mercury is a shiny, liquid metal that stays liquid even when it's very cold.
"The mercury in the thermometer dropped sharply as the night grew colder."
Usage: Mercury refers to the Roman god associated with speed and communication, so it is used metaphorically to describe a swift messenger or courier rather than a newsboy. You will most often encounter this meaning in historical texts or literary references where someone is sent on an urgent errand.
The planet in the solar system with the closest orbit to the Sun, named after the god; represented by ☿.
"Mercury is so close to the Sun that it experiences extreme temperature swings between its day and night sides."
The word comes from Middle English mercurie, which was borrowed from Late Latin mercurius. This term originally named the Roman god Mercury, who was associated with commerce and communication.