Cinnabar: meaning, definitions and examples

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cinnabar

 

[ ˈsɪnəbɑː ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

red mineral

Cinnabar is a bright red mineral consisting of mercury sulfide. It is the most common ore of mercury and has been used for centuries as a pigment for red paint.

Synonyms

mercury sulfide, vermilion

Examples of usage

  • The artist used cinnabar to create the vibrant red hues in the painting.
  • Miners extracted cinnabar from the earth to obtain mercury.

Word origin

The word cinnabar comes from the Old French word 'cinabre', which is derived from the Latin word 'cinnabaris'. The Latin word itself is ultimately of Greek origin, with 'kinnabari' being the Greek word for the mineral. Cinnabar has been used since ancient times for its vibrant red color and was often associated with the god Mercury in alchemical traditions.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,279, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.