spark

¹

[spahrk]

noun

1. an ignited or fiery particle such as is thrown off by burning wood or produced by one hard body striking against another.

2. Also called sparkover. Electricity.

   1. the light produced by a sudden discontinuous discharge of electricity through air or another dielectric.

   2. the discharge itself.

   3. any electric arc of relatively small energy content.

   4. the electric discharge produced by a spark plug in an internal-combustion engine.

3. anything that activates or stimulates; inspiration or catalyst.

4. a small amount or trace of something.

   Synonyms: flicker, bit, jot

5. a trace of life or vitality.

6. (used with a singular verb),  sparks, a radio operator on a ship or aircraft.

7. (usually initial capital letter),  a member of Camp Fire, Inc., who is five years of age.

verb (used without object)

1. to emit or produce sparks.

2. to issue as or like sparks.

3. to send forth gleams or flashes.

4. (of the ignition of an internal-combustion engine) to function correctly in producing sparks.

verb (used with object)

1. to kindle, animate, or stimulate (interest, activity, spirit, etc.).

   These bright students have sparked her enthusiasm for teaching. The arrival of the piano player really sparked the party.

spark

²

[spahrk]

noun

1. an elegant or foppish young man.

2. a beau, lover, or suitor.

3. a woman of outstanding beauty, charm, or wit.

verb (used with object)

1. to woo; court.

verb (used without object)

1. to engage in courtship; woo.

Spark

³

[spahrk]

noun

1. Muriel (Sarah) (Camberg), 1918–2006, British novelist and writer, born in Scotland.

spark

¹

/ spɑːk /

noun

1. a fiery particle thrown out or left by burning material or caused by the friction of two hard surfaces

2. 1. a momentary flash of light accompanied by a sharp crackling noise, produced by a sudden electrical discharge through the air or some other insulating medium between two points

   2. the electrical discharge itself

   3. ( as modifier )

      a spark gap

3. anything that serves to animate, kindle, or excite

4. a trace or hint

   she doesn't show a spark of interest

5. vivacity, enthusiasm, or humour

6. a small piece of diamond, as used in the cutting of glass

verb

1. (intr) to give off sparks

2. (intr) (of the sparking plug or ignition system of an internal-combustion engine) to produce a spark

3. to kindle, excite, or animate

spark

²

/ spɑːk /

noun

1. a fashionable or gallant young man

2. ironic,  a person who appears clever or witty

   some bright spark left the papers next to the open window

verb

1. rare,  to woo (a person)

Spark

³

/ spɑːk /

noun

1. Dame Muriel ( Sarah ). 1918–2006, British novelist and writer; her novels include Memento Mori (1959), The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1961), The Takeover (1976), A Far Cry from Kensington (1988), Symposium (1990), and The Finishing School (2004)

Other Word Forms

• sparkless adjective
• sparklessly adverb
• sparklike adjective
• sparkish adjective
• sparkishly adverb
• sparkishness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spark¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun spark(e), sparc(k), Old English spearca, spærca, sperca; cognate with Middle Dutch sparcke, spercke, Middle Low German sparke; the verb is derivative of the noun

Origin of spark²

First recorded in 1575–85; figurative use of spark ¹ , or from Old Norse sparkr “quick, lively, brisk”

Word History and Origins

Origin of spark¹

Old English spearca; related to Middle Low German sparke, Middle Dutch spranke, Lettish spirgsti cinders, Latin spargere to strew

Origin of spark²

C16 (in the sense: beautiful or witty woman): perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse sparkr vivacious

Idioms and Phrases

see make the sparks fly.

Example Sentences

False 911 reports can spark fear, panic and trigger a large police response that can have deadly consequences.

From Los Angeles Times

"Like many forms of art before her, she sparks conversation, and that in itself shows the power of creativity."

From BBC

Partly whimsical: I let myself notice the little, absurd sparks of autumn that made me smile.

From Salon

Watson, who recently hit headlines after a public spat with Potter author JK Rowling, sparked rumours she was engaged by wearing a sparkling ring on her wedding finger.

From BBC

The attacks sparked a war in which more than 67,000 people in Gaza have been killed by Israeli military action, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

From BBC

Related Words

• flare 
• flicker 
• gleam 
• glint 
• glitter 
• glow 
• hint 
• sparkle