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

With a microscope, the researchers also found a rust reddish pigment on the ornaments—likely cinnabar or hematite that were sprinkled or painted on the bodies of deceased royals as part of burial rites.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 17, 2024

"Ober in history has been the mine from which Kresevo miners had extracted cinnabar and melted it to get gold," said Marija.

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

Always didactic, he went into a learned exposition of the diabolical properties of cinnabar, but Úrsula paid no attention to him, although she took the children off to pray.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez