Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Sparkle

Spar′kle

,
Noun.
[Dim. of
spark
.]
1.
A little spark; a scintillation.
As fire is wont to quicken and go
From a
sparkle
sprungen amiss,
Till a city brent up is.
Chaucer.
The shock was sufficiently strong to strike out some
sparkles
of his fiery temper.
Prescott.
2.
Brilliancy; luster;
as, the
sparkle
of a diamond
.

Spar′kle

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Sparkled
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Sparkling
.]
[See
Sparkle
,
Noun.
, Spark of fire.]
1.
To emit sparks; to throw off ignited or incandescent particles; to shine as if throwing off sparks; to emit flashes of light; to scintillate; to twinkle;
as, the blazing wood
sparkles
; the stars
sparkle
.
A mantelet upon his shoulder hanging
Bretful of rubies red, as fire
sparkling
.
Chaucer.
2.
To manifest itself by, or as if by, emitting sparks; to glisten; to flash.
I see bright honor
sparkle
through your eyes.
Milton.
3.
To emit little bubbles, as certain kinds of liquors; to effervesce;
as,
sparkling
wine
.
Syn. – To shine; glisten; scintillate; radiate; coruscate; glitter; twinkle.

Spar′kle

,
Verb.
T.
To emit in the form or likeness of sparks.
“Did sparkle forth great light.”
Spenser.

Spar′kle

,
Verb.
T.
[Cf.
Sparble
.]
1.
To disperse.
[Obs.]
The Landgrave hath
sparkled
his army without any further enterprise.
State Papers.
2.
To scatter on or over.
[Obs.]
Purchas.

Webster 1828 Edition


Sparkle

SP'ARKLE

, n.
1.
A spark.
2.
A luminous particle.

SP'ARKLE

, v.i.
1.
To emit sparks; to send off small ignited particles; as burning fuel, &c.
2.
To glitter; to glisten; as, a brilliant sparkles; sparkling colors.
3.
To twinkle; to glitter; as sparkling stars.
4.
To glisten; to exhibit an appearance of animation; as, the eyes sparkle with joy.
5.
To emit little bubbles, as spirituous liquors; as sparkling wine.

SP'ARKLE

,
Verb.
I.
To throw about; to scatter. [Not in use.]

Definition 2024


sparkle

sparkle

English

Noun

sparkle (plural sparkles)

  1. A little spark; a scintillation.
    • Spenser
      As sparkles from the anvil rise, / When heavy hammers on the wedge are swayed.
    • Prescott
      The shock was sufficiently strong to strike out some sparkles of his fiery temper.
  2. Brilliance; luster.
    the sparkle of a diamond.
Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English sparklen, spearclen, sperclen, equivalent to spark + -le (frequentative suffix). Cognate with Dutch sparkelen (to sparkle).

Alternative forms

  • sparckle, sparcle (obsolete)

Verb

sparkle (third-person singular simple present sparkles, present participle sparkling, simple past and past participle sparkled)

  1. (intransitive) To emit sparks; to throw off ignited or incandescent particles, as the blazing wood sparkles.
  2. (by extension) To shine as if throwing off sparks; to emit flashes of light; to scintillate; to twinkle; as, the stars sparkle.
    • A mantelet upon his shoulder hanging Bretful of rubies red, as fire sparkling. Chaucer.
    • 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 5, in The Mirror and the Lamp:
      Here, in the transept and choir, where the service was being held, one was conscious every moment of an increasing brightness; colours glowing vividly beneath the circular chandeliers, and the rows of small lights on the choristers' desks flashed and sparkled in front of the boys' faces, deep linen collars, and red neckbands.
  3. (intransitive) To manifest itself by, or as if by, emitting sparks; to glisten; to flash.
    • Milton
      I see bright honour sparkle through your eyes.
  4. (intransitive) To emit little bubbles, as certain kinds of liquors; to effervesce; as, sparkling wine.
  5. (transitive) To emit in the form or likeness of sparks.
    • Did sparkle forth great light. Spenser
  6. (transitive, obsolete) To disperse.
    • The Landgrave hath sparkled his army without any further enterprise. State Papers.
  7. (transitive, obsolete) To scatter on or over.
Synonyms
Translations

References

  • sparkle in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913