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Glite Dictionary
mercury cell

mercury cell

7.3
A small battery that uses mercury to give steady electric power, often used in old devices like hearing aids
  • noun
  • /ˈmɜrkjʊri sɛl/
  • Archaic
translation icon : celda de mercurio
  • The old hearing aid was powered by a small mercury cell that needed regular replacement.

Examples

  • Due to environmental concerns, the use of mercury cells in batteries has been discontinued in many countries.

  • The mercury cell powered the old watch.

  • A mercury cell provides a steady voltage output, making it useful for some precision instruments.

  • Many devices used mercury cells in the past.

  • A mercury cell provides a steady voltage output, making it useful for some precision instruments.

  • Due to environmental concerns, the use of mercury cells in batteries has been discontinued in many countries.

  • The old hearing aid was powered by a small mercury cell that needed regular replacement.

Synonyms

cell
vsmercury cell
  • Specialized
148 3.9

A small device inside a battery that makes electricity

is a specific primary type with defined electrodes and electrolyte
galvanic cell
vsmercury cell
  • Specialized
7.0

A device that makes electricity when chemicals react and cannot be recharged

specifies a particular metal anode an oxide cathode with potassium hydroxide electrolyte

Surface Forms

mercury cell singular
mercury cells plural

Morphology

mercury + cell

The compound is transparently built from 'mercury' (the metal) + 'cell' (an electric/battery unit), so a learner who knows both words can reasonably infer it refers to a type of battery that uses mercury. While the precise electrochemical details (zinc anode, mercury oxide cathode, electrolyte) are technical and not predictable, the core meaning—a battery/cell involving mercury—is directly derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Mercury cell names a small cell or 'battery' that used the metal mercury inside. The metal gave a steady power, so these batteries were used in precise devices like hearing aids, but later many countries stopped using them because mercury is 'poisonous'.