spark

[ spahrk ]

/ spɑrk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR spark ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

Also called sparkover. Electricity.

the light produced by a sudden discontinuous discharge of electricity through air or another dielectric.
the discharge itself.
any electric arc of relatively small energy content.
the electric discharge produced by a spark plug in an internal-combustion engine.

anything that activates or stimulates; inspiration or catalyst.

a small amount or trace of something.

a trace of life or vitality.

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

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

verb (used without object)

to emit or produce sparks.

to issue as or like sparks.

to send forth gleams or flashes.

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

verb (used with object)

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.

Nearby words

Origin of spark

before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English spearca; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German sparke; (v.) Middle English sparken; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German sparken

SYNONYMS FOR spark

4. jot, bit, flicker.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR spark ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsspark·less, adjectivespark·less·ly, adverbspark·like, adjective

spark

[ spahrk ]

/ spɑrk /

Informal: Older Use.

noun

an elegant or foppish young man.

a beau, lover, or suitor.

a woman of outstanding beauty, charm, or wit.

verb (used with object)

to woo; court.

verb (used without object)

to engage in courtship; woo.

Origin of spark

1565–75; figurative use of spark¹, or < Old Norse sparkr quick, lively

Related formsspark·ish, adjectivespark·ish·ly, adverbspark·ish·ness, nounspark·like, adjective

Spark

[ spahrk ]

/ spɑrk /

noun

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for spark

I love seeing memes take off and spark mutations and parodies and homages.
Death of the Author by Viral Infection: In Defense of Taylor Swift, Digital Doomsayer|Arthur Chu|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Our inner cities are stacks of dry leaves and lumber, waiting for a spark.
‘Why Have I Lost Control?’: Cory Booker in ’92 on Rodney King Echoes Ferguson|Cory Booker|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then, it was the arrest of a popular leader named Mullah Kareem without just cause that provided the spark.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban Valley|Matt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You refer to a car accident you were in as a kind of spark for you to get back into acting.
All Eyes on Anjelica Huston: The Legendary Actress on Love, Abuse, and Jack Nicholson|Alex Suskind|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Does the fact that Cary is embroiled in all of this now spark any sort of crisis of conscience?
‘The Good Wife’ Star Mike Colter Defends Lemond Bishop’s Killer Instincts|Kevin Fallon|September 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A spark falling on a properly treated tent roof burns only a little round hole at the worst.
Touring Afoot|Claude Powell Fordyce
Oh, Marilla, if you have a spark of Christian pity don't tell me that I must go down and wash the dishes after this.
Anne Of Green Gables|Lucy Maud Montgomery
Jerry shut off the power, took out the spark plug and the boys advanced cautiously, leaving the machine on one side of the road.
The Motor Boys Overland|Clarence Young
It took twenty-five years to kill the spark in his breast, but the process though slow was sure.
The Poems of Philip Freneau, Volume I (of III)|Philip Freneau
You, if you have a spark of temperament, will understand, because you will have experienced something of the sort.
A Maid of the Kentucky Hills|Edwin Carlile Litsey

British Dictionary definitions for spark

spark

/ (spɑːk) /

noun

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

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
the electrical discharge itself
(as modifier)a spark gap

anything that serves to animate, kindle, or excite

a trace or hintshe doesn't show a spark of interest

vivacity, enthusiasm, or humour

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

verb

(intr) to give off sparks

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

(tr often foll by off) to kindle, excite, or animate

Word Origin for spark

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

noun rare

a fashionable or gallant young man

bright spark British usually ironic a person who appears clever or wittysome bright spark left the papers next to the open window

verb

rare to woo (a person)

Derived Formssparkish, adjective

Word Origin for spark

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

Spark

/ (spɑːk) /

noun

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)

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

Word Origin and History for spark

spark

Old English spearca, from Proto-Germanic *spark- (cf. Middle Low German sparke, Middle Dutch spranke, not found in other Germanic languages). Electrical sense dates from 1748. Slang sense of "a gallant, a beau, a lover" (c.1600) is perhaps a figurative use, but also perhaps from cognate Old Norse sparkr "lively." Spark plug first recorded 1903 (sparking plug is from 1902); figurative sense of "one who initiates or is a driving force in some activity" is from 1941.

spark

c.1300, from spark (n.). Slang meaning "stimulate, to trigger" first attested 1912. Related: Sparked; sparking.

Idioms and Phrases with spark

spark

see make the sparks fly.

spark

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Origin of spark

spark

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verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of spark

Spark

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Examples from the Web for spark

spark

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Word Origin for spark

noun rare

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Word Origin for spark

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