Sparks

[spahrks]

See more synonyms for Sparks on Thesaurus.com

noun

Jar·ed [jair-id] /ˈdʒɛər ɪd/, 1789–1866, U.S. historian and editor.
a city in W Nevada, E of Reno.

spark¹

[spahrk]

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.
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.
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.

Origin of spark¹

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

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

Synonyms

See more synonyms for spark on Thesaurus.com

4. jot, bit, flicker.

spark²

[spahrk]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 spark²

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

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for sparks

Contemporary Examples

Pleasure shoots magically in every direction like an explosion of sparks.
‘A Gronking to Remember’ Speed Read: 8 Naughtiest Bits
Emily Shire
January 7, 2015
His hunger strike in December 2011 received nation-wide recognition and was one of the sparks that ignited the protest movement.
Behind Bars for the Holidays: 11 Political Prisoners We Want to See Free In 2015
Movements.Org
December 25, 2014
It sparks a comedic crisis of cultural conscience, which will presumably play out across the series.
‘black-ish’ Is the New ‘Modern Family’
Kevin Fallon
October 1, 2014
But to persist, to endure, to put your will toward a dream that sparks you, is to live large.
From Havana to Hero: Diana Nyad’s 35-Year Quest
Diana Nyad
September 2, 2014
He loses consciousness on the street, falling to the ground “through a wilderness of spots and sparks.”
Tim Winton's Beautiful, Baffling 'Eyrie'
Wendy Smith
August 18, 2014

Historical Examples

It is a wonder that the sparks did not fly, the Devil struck so hard on the hot iron.
Quaint Courtships
Various
The grindstone was soon in motion; the sparks were flying off in showers.
Barnaby Rudge
Charles Dickens
Wherever he has gone he has left some sparks of his own genial enthusiasm.
The International Monthly, Volume 3, No. 2, May, 1851
Various
Then a shower of sparks rose high in the air and the conflagration subsided.
The Downfall
Emile Zola
You have blown out the sparks of love and kindliness, and have for ever robbed the Universe.
The Burning Spear
John Galsworthy

British Dictionary definitions for sparks

sparks

noun (functioning as singular) informal

an electrician
a radio officer, esp on a ship

spark¹

noun

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

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

spark²

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

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

Spark

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 sparks

spark

n.

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

v.

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

Idioms and Phrases with sparks

spark

see make the sparks fly.

Sparks

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Synonyms

spark2

Origin of spark2

Examples from the Web for sparks

Contemporary Examples

Pleasure shoots magically in every direction like an explosion of sparks.

His hunger strike in December 2011 received nation-wide recognition and was one of the sparks that ignited the protest movement.

It sparks a comedic crisis of cultural conscience, which will presumably play out across the series.

But to persist, to endure, to put your will toward a dream that sparks you, is to live large.

He loses consciousness on the street, falling to the ground “through a wilderness of spots and sparks.”

Historical Examples

It is a wonder that the sparks did not fly, the Devil struck so hard on the hot iron.

The grindstone was soon in motion; the sparks were flying off in showers.

Wherever he has gone he has left some sparks of his own genial enthusiasm.

Then a shower of sparks rose high in the air and the conflagration subsided.

You have blown out the sparks of love and kindliness, and have for ever robbed the Universe.

sparks

spark1

Word Origin

spark2

Word Origin

Spark

Word Origin and History for sparks

spark

n.

spark

v.

Idioms and Phrases with sparks

spark

spark¹

Origin of spark¹

spark²

Origin of spark²

spark¹

spark²