lark

1
[ lahrk ]
See synonyms for lark on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. any of numerous, chiefly Old World oscine birds, of the family Alaudidae, characterized by an unusually long, straight hind claw, especially the skylark, Alauda arvensis.

  2. any of various similar birds of other families, as the meadowlark and titlark.

Origin of lark

1
before 900; Middle English larke,Old English lāwerce; cognate with German Lerche,Dutch leeuwerik,Old Norse lǣvirki

Other definitions for lark (2 of 2)

lark2
[ lahrk ]

noun
  1. a merry, carefree adventure; frolic; escapade.

  2. innocent or good-natured mischief; a prank.

  1. something extremely easy to accomplish, succeed in, or to obtain: That exam was a lark.

verb (used without object)
  1. to have fun; frolic; romp.

  2. to behave mischievously; play pranks.

  1. Fox Hunting. (of a rider) to take jumps unnecessarily: He tired his horse by larking on the way home.

Origin of lark

2
First recorded in 1805–15; origin uncertain

Other words from lark

  • larker, noun
  • lark·i·ness, lark·ish·ness, noun
  • lark·ing·ly, adverb
  • larkish, larky, adjective
  • lark·ish·ly, adverb
  • larksome, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use lark in a sentence

  • They swam and larked and sported until they were not only refreshed and rested but actually tired again.

    The Boy Scout Treasure Hunters | Charles Henry Lerrigo
  • Gussie sighed the sigh of innocence, a sigh which the young men with whom she larked about in Alexandra Gardens never heard.

    A Lost Cause | Cyril Arthur Edward Ranger Gull
  • But they themselves did not visit those who had larked beyond a certain point.

    H. R. | Edwin Lefevre
  • He and Amedee had ridden and wrestled and larked together since they were lads of twelve.

    O Pioneers! | Willa Cather
  • They clambered on to the wheels, swung from the dangling chains, and larked about amongst the piles of boxes and hampers.

British Dictionary definitions for lark (1 of 2)

lark1

/ (lɑːk) /


noun
  1. any brown songbird of the predominantly Old World family Alaudidae, esp the skylark: noted for their singing

  2. short for titlark, meadowlark

  1. (often capital) any of various slender but powerful fancy pigeons, such as the Coburg Lark

  2. up with the lark up early in the morning

Origin of lark

1
Old English lāwerce, lǣwerce, of Germanic origin; related to German Lerche, Icelandic lǣvirki

British Dictionary definitions for lark (2 of 2)

lark2

/ (lɑːk) informal /


noun
  1. a carefree adventure or frolic

  2. a harmless piece of mischief

  1. what a lark! how amusing!

verb(intr)
  1. (often foll by about) to have a good time by frolicking

  2. to play a prank

Origin of lark

2
C19: originally slang, perhaps related to laik

Derived forms of lark

  • larker, noun
  • larkish, adjective
  • larkishness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with lark

lark

In addition to the idiom beginning with lark

  • lark it up

also see:

  • happy as the day is long (as a lark)

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.