cinnabar Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a heavy reddish mineral consisting of mercuric sulfide; the chief source of mercury
  2. noun large red-and-black European moth; larvae feed on leaves of ragwort; introduced into United States to control ragwort
    Callimorpha jacobeae; cinnabar moth.
  3. adjective satellite of a vivid red to reddish-orange color
    Chinese-red; vermilion; vermillion.

WordNet

Cin"na*bar noun
Etymology
L. cinnabaris, Gr. prob. of Oriental origin; cf. Per. qinbar, Hind. shangarf.
Definitions
  1. (Min.) Red sulphide of mercury, occurring in brilliant red crystals, and also in red or brown amorphous masses. It is used in medicine.
  2. The artificial red sulphide of mercury used as a pigment; vermilion.

Webster 1913