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