spark
UK /ˈspɑːk/ · US /ˈspɑɹk/ noun, verb, proper noun
Forms sparks sparking sparked
- noun A small particle of glowing matter, either molten or on fire, resulting from an electrical surge or excessive heat created by friction.
- noun A short or small burst of electrical discharge.
- noun A small, shining body, or transient light; a sparkle.
- noun (figuratively) A small amount of something, such as an idea or romantic affection, that has the potential to become something greater, just as a spark can start a fire.
- noun Any of various lycaenid butterflies of the Indomalayan genus Sinthusa.
- noun (in the plural sparks but treated as a singular) A ship's radio operator.
- noun (UK, slang) An electrician.
- noun (cellular automata) A small collection of cells which briefly appears at the edge of a larger pattern before dying off.
- verb (transitive, figurative) To trigger, kindle into activity (an argument, etc).
- verb (transitive) To light; to kindle.
- verb (intransitive) To give off a spark or sparks.
- verb (intransitive, of a gun) To shoot; to fire
- noun A gallant; a foppish young man.
- noun A beau, lover.
- verb (intransitive, archaic) To woo, court; to act the gallant or beau.
- proper noun A surname.
Synonyms
cinder ember gnast funk scintilla scintillation sparklet glint twink beginning germ glimmer ace atom thought atomy aught bissel continental bit flicker sparkle twinkle light discharge arc electric arc electric discharge Muriel Spark Dame Muriel Spark
Etymology
From Middle English sparke, sperke, from Old English spearca, from Proto-West Germanic *sparkō (compare Saterland Frisian Spoorke, West Frisian spark, Dutch spark, German Low German Sparke, German Sparke), perhaps from Proto-Germanic *sparkaz (“lively, energetic”), from Proto-Indo-European *sperg- (“to strew, sprinkle”) (compare Breton erc’h (“snow”), Latin spargō (“to scatter, spread”), sparsus (“scattered”), Lithuanian sprógti (“to germinate”), Ancient Greek σπαργάω (spargáō, “to swell”), Avestan 𐬟𐬭𐬀𐬯𐬞𐬀𐬭𐬈𐬔𐬀 (frasparega, “branch, twig”), Sanskrit पर्जन्य (parjanya, “rain, rain god”)).
Probably Scandinavian, akin to Old Norse sparkr (“sprightly”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A small particle of fire or ignited substance which is emitted by a body in combustion.
- noun A small, shining body, or transient light; a sparkle.
- noun A brisk, showy, gay man. The finest sparks and cleanest beaux. Prior.
- noun A lover; a gallant; a beau.
Etymology [OE. sparke, AS. spearca; akin to D. spark, sperk; cf. Icel. spraka to crackle, Lith. spragëti, Gr. sph to crackle, to thunder. Cf. Speak.]
Etymology [Icel. sparkr lively, sprightly.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “spark”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details