Sparks

[ spahrks ]

/ spɑrks /

SEE 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.

Words nearby Sparks

sparkling water, sparkling wine, sparkly, sparkover, sparkplug, Sparks, sparky, sparling, sparoid, sparring partner, sparrow

Definition for sparks (2 of 3)

spark¹

[ spahrk ]

/ spɑrk /

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.

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 SYNONYMS FOR spark ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM spark

spark·less, adjectivespark·less·ly, adverbspark·like, adjective

Definition for sparks (3 of 3)

spark²

[ 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

OTHER WORDS FROM spark

spark·ish, adjectivespark·ish·ly, adverbspark·ish·ness, nounspark·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for sparks

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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
The sparks made by striking fell on the tinder and caught it on fire here and there.
The Story Of My Life From Childhood To Manhood|Georg Ebers
We had almost reached the end of the street when a door opened suddenly and a shower of sparks flew out ahead of us.
The Andes of Southern Peru|Isaiah Bowman
The huge hearth receives the mighty log, and the flames and sparks shoot up the gaping chimney.
Old English Sports|Peter Hampson Ditchfield
The sparks that came from the engine would set fire to the houses near which they passed.
The Boyhood of Great Inventors|A. Fraser Robertson
If any one smoothed her fur the wrong way, in the dark, sparks would fly, and a snap like a fire-cracker would follow.
Daisy|Miranda Eliot Swan

British Dictionary definitions for sparks (1 of 4)

sparks

/ (spɑːks) /

noun (functioning as singular) informal

an electrician

a radio officer, esp on a ship

British Dictionary definitions for sparks (2 of 4)

spark¹

/ (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

British Dictionary definitions for sparks (3 of 4)

spark²

/ (spɑːk) /

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 forms of spark

sparkish, adjective

Word Origin for spark

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

British Dictionary definitions for sparks (4 of 4)

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

Idioms and Phrases with sparks

spark

see make the sparks fly.

Sparks

noun

Words related to Sparks

Words nearby Sparks

Definition for sparks (2 of 3)

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

Origin of spark

SYNONYMS FOR spark

OTHER WORDS FROM spark

Definition for sparks (3 of 3)

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of spark

OTHER WORDS FROM spark

Examples from the Web for sparks

British Dictionary definitions for sparks (1 of 4)

noun (functioning as singular) informal

British Dictionary definitions for sparks (2 of 4)

noun

verb

Word Origin for spark

British Dictionary definitions for sparks (3 of 4)

noun rare

verb

Derived forms of spark

Word Origin for spark

British Dictionary definitions for sparks (4 of 4)

noun

Idioms and Phrases with sparks