a heavy silvery toxic univalent and bivalent metallic element; the only metal that is liquid at ordinary temperatures

[ Syn: mercury , hydrargyrum , hg , atomic number 80 ]

liable to sudden unpredictable change; erratic behavior; fickle weather; mercurial twists of temperament; a quicksilver character, cool and willful at one moment, utterly fragile the next

[ Syn: erratic , fickle , mercurial ]