The only metal that is liquid at ordinary temperatures

• A heavy silvery toxic univalent and bivalent metallic element

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Element \El"e*ment\, n. [F. ['e]l['e]ment, L. elementum.] One of the simplest or essential parts or principles of which anything consists, or upon which the constitution or fundamental powers of anything are based. One of the ultimate, undecomposable ...

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. (label en chemistry and medicine) (l en mercury) (gloss: chemical element)

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. a heavy silvery toxic univalent and bivalent metallic element; the only metal that is liquid at ordinary temperatures [syn: mercury , quicksilver , Hg , atomic number 80 ]

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"mercury, quicksilver," 1560s, from Latin hydrargyrus , from Greek hydrargyros , from hydr- , stem of hydor "water" (see water (n.1)) + argyros "silver" (see argent ). Hence the chemical abbreviation Hg for the element mercury.