ˈsinəˌbär, -ȧ(r noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English cynoper, cynabare, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French cenobre, from Latin cinnabaris, from Greek kinnabari, of non-Indo-European origin; akin to Arabic zinjafr cinnabar
1. : a mineral HgS consisting of mercuric sulfide occurring in brilliant red crystals or in red or brownish masses and being the only important ore of mercury
2. : artificial red mercuric sulfide used principally as a pigment : vermilion 1a
3. or cinnabar moth : a European moth ( Tyria jacobeae ) having grayish black fore wings marked with red, hind wings clear reddish pink, and larvae that feed on the leaves of ragwort which it was introduced into several areas of the United States to control