cinnabar

American  

[sin-uh-bahr] / ˈsɪn əˌbɑr /

noun

1. a mineral, mercuric sulfide, HgS, occurring in red crystals or masses: the principal ore of mercury.

2. red mercuric sulfide, used as a pigment.

3. bright red; vermillion.

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cinnabar British  

/ ˈsɪnəˌbɑː /

noun

1. a bright red or brownish-red mineral form of mercuric sulphide (mercury(II) sulphide), found close to areas of volcanic activity and hot springs. It is the main commercial source of mercury. Formula: HgS. Crystal structure: hexagonal

2. the red form of mercuric sulphide (mercury(II) sulphide), esp when used as a pigment

3. a bright red to reddish-orange; vermilion

4. a large red-and-black European moth, Callimorpha jacobaeae: family Arctiidae (tiger moths, etc)

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Other Word Forms

• cinnabaric adjective
• cinnabarine adjective

Etymology

Origin of cinnabar

1350–1400; < Latin cinnabaris < Greek kinnábari < ?; replacing Middle English cynoper < Medieval Latin, Latin as above

Example Sentences

Egyptians thought green copper ore helped eye inflammation, the Chinese used cinnabar for heartburn, and Native Americans used clay to reduce soreness and inflammation.

From Science Daily • May 31, 2024

The peacock butterfly caterpillars flailed their bodies—and even bit at the electrodes—about 1.4 times longer, whereas the cinnabar and vapourer caterpillars spent 175 times and 3.3 times longer coiled into tight balls.

From Science Magazine • May 20, 2024

Her house's door and window is painted red after the colouring of the cinnabar ore.

From Reuters • May 11, 2023

Never mind the adjective, I was mercury: quicksilver, Hg, hydrargyrum, ore of cinnabar, resistant to herding, incapable of assuming a fixed form.

From Salon • Oct. 22, 2022

His clothes, still slightly damp from their recent washing, had returned to their usual cinnabar color.

From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin