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
1
before 900; (noun) Middle English;Old Englishspearca; cognate with Middle Dutch,Middle Low Germansparke; (v.) Middle Englishsparken; cognate with Middle Dutch,Middle Low Germansparken
Related formsspark·less, adjectivespark·less·ly, adverbspark·like, adjective
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
Old English spearca; related to Middle Low German sparke, Middle Dutch spranke, Lettish spirgsti cinders, Latin spargere to strew
spark
2
nounrare
a fashionable or gallant young man
bright sparkBritishusuallyironica person who appears clever or wittysome bright spark left the papers next to the open window
verb
rareto 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
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)
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.
