cinnabar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Literary, Scientific, Historical
Quick answer
What does “cinnabar” mean?
A bright red to reddish-brown mineral (mercury sulfide), historically used as a pigment.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A bright red to reddish-brown mineral (mercury sulfide), historically used as a pigment.
The bright red colour of the mineral; can refer to the Scarlet Tiger moth (Callimorpha dominula) due to its wing markings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or definition differences.
Connotations
In both varieties, primary connotation is the pigment or mineral; it is a specialised term.
Frequency
Equally rare and formal in both dialects, used primarily in academic or artistic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “cinnabar” in a Sentence
Noun + of + cinnabar (a vein of cinnabar)Made from cinnabarThe colour cinnabarVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cinnabar” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not used as a verb.
American English
- Not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Her dress was a cinnabar shade, strikingly vivid against the grey stone.
- The artist preferred cinnabar pigments for their depth.
American English
- The cinnabar hue of the sunset was breathtaking.
- He painted the door a cinnabar red.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in geology, art history, chemistry, and history of science.
Everyday
Extremely rare.
Technical
Used as a specific mineral name and pigment formula (HgS).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cinnabar”
- Misspelling as 'cinnaber' or 'cinnibar'.
- Using it as a general red colour in casual contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Its use as a pigment is largely historical due to the toxicity of mercury; it is now primarily of mineralogical interest.
It is the principal ore of mercury; processing it can release toxic mercury vapour.
Yes, it is the common name for the Scarlet Tiger moth, which has red markings.
No, it is a low-frequency, specialised term used mostly in academic or artistic contexts.
A bright red to reddish-brown mineral (mercury sulfide), historically used as a pigment.
Cinnabar is usually literary, scientific, historical in register.
Cinnabar: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɪnəbɑː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɪnəˌbɑːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None commonly associated.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CINEMA + BAR. Imagine a cinema's velvet ropes being a vivid CINNABAR red.
Conceptual Metaphor
VIBRANT COLOUR IS (CINNABAR) RED.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'cinnabar' most technically precise?