spark

¹

[ spahrk ]

noun

1. an ignited or fiery particle such as is thrown off by burning wood or produced by one hard body striking against another.
2. 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.
3. anything that activates or stimulates; inspiration or catalyst.
4. a small amount or trace of something.

   Synonyms: flicker, bit, jot

5. a trace of life or vitality.
6. sparks, (used with a singular verb) Slang. a radio operator on a ship or aircraft.
7. (usually initial capital letter) a member of Camp Fire, Inc., who is five years of age.

verb (used without object)

1. to emit or produce sparks.
2. to issue as or like sparks.
3. to send forth gleams or flashes.
4. (of the ignition of an internal-combustion engine) to function correctly in producing sparks.

verb (used with object)

1. 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.

spark

²

[ spahrk ]

noun

1. an elegant or foppish young man.
2. a beau, lover, or suitor.
3. a woman of outstanding beauty, charm, or wit.

verb (used with object)

1. to woo; court.

verb (used without object)

1. to engage in courtship; woo.

Spark

³

[ spahrk ]

noun

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

Spark

¹

/ spɑːk /

noun

1. SparkMuriel (Sarah), Dame19182006FBritishWRITING: novelistWRITING: writer 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)

spark

²

/ spɑːk /

noun

1. a fiery particle thrown out or left by burning material or caused by the friction of two hard surfaces
2. 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

3. anything that serves to animate, kindle, or excite
4. a trace or hint

   she doesn't show a spark of interest

5. vivacity, enthusiasm, or humour
6. a small piece of diamond, as used in the cutting of glass

verb

1. intr to give off sparks
2. intr (of the sparking plug or ignition system of an internal-combustion engine) to produce a spark
3. troften foll byoff to kindle, excite, or animate

spark

³

/ spɑːk /

noun

1. a fashionable or gallant young man
2. bright spark ironic.
   bright spark a person who appears clever or witty

   some bright spark left the papers next to the open window

verb

1. rare.
   to woo (a person)

Derived Forms

• ˈsparkish, adjective

Other Words From

• sparkless adjective
• sparkless·ly adverb
• sparklike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spark¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun spark(e), sparc(k), Old English spearca, spærca, sperca; cognate with Middle Dutch sparcke, spercke, Middle Low German sparke; the verb is derivative of the noun

Origin of spark²

First recorded in 1575–85; figurative use of spark ¹none, or from Old Norse sparkr “quick, lively, brisk”

Word History and Origins

Origin of spark¹

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

Origin of spark²

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

Idioms and Phrases

see make the sparks fly .

Example Sentences

Junior forward Jairus Hamilton had another solid evening, giving Maryland an offensive spark off the bench.

From Washington Post

Gloves must insulate against the heat, sparks, radiation, and electricity from welding.

From Popular-Science

What’s different today is that the spark is the leadership of the President of the United States.

From Time

All are needed, fueled by the joy that innovators experience with the spark of novel ideas, and the desire to bring them to life.

From Fortune

The pace of the vaccine rollout remains closely watched, and any positive news on this front could put a spark back into equity markets.

From Washington Post

I love seeing memes take off and spark mutations and parodies and homages.

From The Daily Beast

Our inner cities are stacks of dry leaves and lumber, waiting for a spark.

From The Daily Beast

Then, it was the arrest of a popular leader named Mullah Kareem without just cause that provided the spark.

From The Daily Beast

You refer to a car accident you were in as a kind of spark for you to get back into acting.

From The Daily Beast

Their aim was to make beautiful art—and hopefully spark a conversation.

From The Daily Beast

Very trim and strong, and confident he looked, with the glow of youth in his cheeks, and the spark of happiness in his gray eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

If ever a spark of feeling for her husband arose within Maude's heart, it was when she thought of Anne Ashton.

From Project Gutenberg

We passed beyond spark-range and splashed out on a sand-bar that jutted from the southern bank.

From Project Gutenberg

Now listen to me, said the dying woman, aloud, as if making a great effort to revive one latent spark of energy.

From Project Gutenberg

Gradually, however, the spark grew to a burning mass, which created the draught of air that fanned it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• kindle
• precipitate
• provoke
• set off
• stimulate
• stir
• trigger