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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.

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RELATED WORDS

hint, gleam, flicker, sparkle, flare, glint, glitter, glow, trigger, kindle, precipitate, provoke, stir, stimulate, vestige, jot, spit, fire, scrap, beam

spark

1
[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 spark

1
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 for spark

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR spark ON THESAURUS.COM
4. jot, bit, flicker.

spark

2
[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 spark

2
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. 2019

Examples from the Web for sparks

Contemporary Examples of sparks

Historical Examples of sparks

  • 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.

    Barnaby Rudge

    Charles Dickens

  • 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.

    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

spark

1

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
See also spark off, sparks

Word Origin for spark

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

spark

2

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

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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with sparks

spark

see make the sparks fly.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.