English Explanatory Dictionary

spark

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A small particle of glowing matter, either molten or on fire, resulting from an electrical surge or excessive heat created by friction.
  2. A short or small burst of electrical discharge.
  3. A small, shining body, or transient light; a sparkle.
  4. 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.
  5. Any of various lycaenid butterflies of the Indomalayan genus Sinthusa.
  6. A ship's radio operator.
  7. An electrician.
  8. A small collection of cells which briefly appears at the edge of a larger pattern before dying off.
  9. A diamond, especially one set in a piece of jewellery.
verb
  1. To trigger, kindle into activity (an argument, etc).
  2. To light; to kindle.
  3. To give off a spark or sparks.
  4. To shoot; to fire
noun
  1. A gallant; a foppish young man.
  2. A beau, lover.
verb
  1. To woo, court; to act the gallant or beau.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

spärk /spɑɹk/ späk /spɑːk/ en-us-spark.ogg

Word forms

spark sparks sparking sparked

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”)).

Synonyms

cinder ember gnast funk scintilla scintillation sparklet glint twink beginning germ glimmer ace atom atomy aught bissel bit crumb glimpse dab damn dash diddly dot spatter drop dusting fleck hint flip flyspeck grain halfpennyworth inch iota jot lick mite modicum molecule morceau morsel mote ooch ounce particle pennyworth piece pinch relish scantling semblance scent scooch scrap scruple shred skerrick skoosh

Derived words

antispark belly spark bright spark jump spark macrospark microspark nanospark ocular spark spark anglemouth spark arrester spark arrestor spark bird spark coil sparkful spark gap sparkie spark knock sparkler sparkless sparklike sparkline spark of life spark out sparkover spark plug sparkproof sparks fly spark spread sparktastic spark test spark testing spark transmitter sparky spunk vital spark sparkle spark up respark sparkable spark off sparkish sparker Sparkian
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