mercury barometer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Technical / Scientific / Formal
Quick answer
What does “mercury barometer” mean?
An instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure, consisting of a glass tube filled with mercury, sealed at one end and inverted in a reservoir of mercury.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure, consisting of a glass tube filled with mercury, sealed at one end and inverted in a reservoir of mercury; the height of the mercury column indicates pressure.
A specific type of barometer invented by Evangelista Torricelli in 1643, operating on the principle that atmospheric pressure balances a column of mercury in a sealed tube. It can also metaphorically refer to a highly precise or traditional standard for measurement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling follows national conventions for other words in a sentence.
Connotations
Both varieties connote scientific precision, historical significance, and sometimes outdated technology in everyday contexts.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialised in both dialects. More common in historical, meteorological, or physics contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “mercury barometer” in a Sentence
The [scientist] used a mercury barometer to [measure atmospheric pressure].The [reading] on the mercury barometer [indicated a storm].A mercury barometer [consists of] a glass tube and a reservoir.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mercury barometer” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We need to mercury-barometer the pressure changes more precisely. (Non-standard, very rare/technical)
American English
- They attempted to mercury-barometer the atmospheric conditions. (Non-standard, very rare/technical)
adjective
British English
- The mercury-barometer reading was crucial for the forecast. (Attributive noun compound used adjectivally)
American English
- The mercury-barometer data showed a rapid drop. (Attributive noun compound used adjectivally)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in contexts like instrument manufacturing or historical business case studies.
Academic
Common in physics, history of science, meteorology, and engineering texts discussing measurement principles.
Everyday
Very rare. Most people would simply say 'barometer'.
Technical
Standard term in meteorology and instrumentation for specifying the type of barometer.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mercury barometer”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mercury barometer”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mercury barometer”
- Using 'mercury barometer' as a general term for any barometer.
- Misspelling as 'mercury barometre' (UK) or 'mercury barameter'.
- Incorrect article: 'an mercury barometer' instead of 'a mercury barometer'.
- Confusing it with a manometer.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Mercury is denser than water, so the column needed to balance atmospheric pressure is much shorter (about 760 mm vs. 10+ meters), making a mercury barometer a more practical and compact instrument.
In professional meteorology and calibration labs, high-precision mercury barometers are still considered primary standards. However, for everyday and most operational uses, safer and more portable aneroid or digital barometers are common.
It means the column of mercury in the barometer drops, indicating a decrease in atmospheric pressure, which is often associated with incoming stormy or rainy weather.
The Italian physicist and mathematician Evangelista Torricelli invented the mercury barometer in 1643, proving the existence of atmospheric pressure and creating a vacuum (Torricellian vacuum) above the mercury column.
An instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure, consisting of a glass tube filled with mercury, sealed at one end and inverted in a reservoir of mercury.
Mercury barometer is usually technical / scientific / formal in register.
Mercury barometer: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɜː.kjə.ri bəˈrɒm.ɪ.tə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɝː.kjə.ri bəˈrɑː.mə.t̬ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The mercury is falling (idiom derived from barometer readings, not the specific instrument).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember 'Mercury' the liquid metal inside, and 'Barometer' for pressure. Picture a silver column in a glass tube measuring the weight of the air.
Conceptual Metaphor
A MERCURY BAROMETER IS A HISTORICAL STANDARD (e.g., 'His ethical judgement was the mercury barometer for the committee').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary liquid used in a traditional mercury barometer?