Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Spark

Spark

,
Noun.
[OE.
sparke
, AS.
spearca
; akin to D.
spark
,
sperk
; cf. Icel.
spraka
to crackle, Lith.
spragëti
, Gr. [GREEK] a bursting with a noise, Skr.
sph[GREEK]rj
to crackle, to thunder. Cf.
Speak
.]
1.
A small particle of fire or ignited substance which is emitted by a body in combustion.
Man is born unto trouble, as the
sparks
fly upward.
Job v. 7.
2.
A small, shining body, or transient light; a sparkle.
3.
That which, like a spark, may be kindled into a flame, or into action; a feeble germ; an elementary principle.
“If any spark of life be yet remaining.”
Shak.
“Small intellectual spark.”
Macaulay.
“Vital spark of heavenly flame.”
Pope.
We have here and there a little clear light, some
sparks of bright knowledge
.
Locke.
Bright gem instinct with music, vocal
spark
.
Wordsworth.
Spark arrester
,
a contrivance to prevent the escape of sparks while it allows the passage of gas, – chiefly used in the smokestack of a wood-burning locomotive. Called also
spark consumer
.
[U.S.]

Spark

,
Noun.
[Icel.
sparkr
lively, sprightly.]
1.
A brisk, showy, gay man.
The finest
sparks
and cleanest beaux.
Prior.
2.
A lover; a gallant; a beau.

Spark

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To sparkle.
[Obs.]
Spenser.

Spark

,
Verb.
I.
To play the spark, beau, or lover.
A sure sign that his master was courting, or, as it is termed,
sparking
, within.
W. Irwing.

Webster 1828 Edition

Spark

SP'ARK

,
Noun.
[The sense is that which shoots, darts off or scatters; probably allied to B. spargo.]
1.
A small particle of fire or ignited substance, which is emitted from bodies in combustion, and which either ascends with the smoke, or is darted in another direction.
2.
A small shining body or transient light. We have here and there a little clear light, and some sparks of bright knowledge.
3.
A small portion of any thing active. If any spark of life is yet remaining.
4.
A very small portion. If you have a spark or generosity.
5.
A brisk, showy, gay man. The finest sparks and cleanest beaux.
6.
A lover.

SP'ARK

,
Verb.
I.
To emit particles of fire; to sparkle. [Not in use.]

Definition 2024

spark

spark

English

Noun

spark ‎(plural sparks)

  1. A small particle of glowing matter, either molten or on fire.
  2. A short or small burst of electrical discharge.
  3. A small, shining body, or transient light; a sparkle.
  4. (figuratively) A small amount of something, such as an idea, that has the potential to become something greater, just as a spark can start a fire.
    • Shakespeare
      if any spark of life be yet remaining
    • John Locke
      We have here and there a little clear light, some sparks of bright knowledge.
    • 2013, Phil McNulty, "", BBC Sport, 1 September 2013:
      Everton's Marouane Fellaini looks one certain arrival but Moyes, who also saw United held to a draw by Chelsea at Old Trafford on Monday, needs even more of a spark in a midfield that looked laboured by this team's standards.
  5. (in plural sparks but treated as a singular) A ship's radio operator.
  6. (Britain, slang) An electrician.
Synonyms
  • (small particle of glowing matter; ember): gnast
  • (small amount of something, such as an idea, that has the potential to become something greater): beginnings, germ, glimmer
Derived terms
Translations

Verb

spark ‎(third-person singular simple present sparks, present participle sparking, simple past and past participle sparked)

  1. (transitive, figuratively) To trigger, kindle into activity (an argument, etc).
    • 2012 May 5, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:
      The introduction of substitute Andy Carroll sparked Liverpool into life and he pulled a goal back just after the hour - and thought he had equalised as Kenny Dalglish's side laid siege to Chelsea's goal in the closing stages.
  2. (transitive) To light; to kindle.
    • Alex Jenson, The Serotonin Grand Prix (page 12)
      Byron sparked the cigarette. He sucked it dramatically and thrust it into Marko's hand.
  3. (intransitive) To give off a spark or sparks.
Derived terms

Etymology 2

Probably Scandinavian, akin to Old Norse sparkr ‎(“sprightly”).

Noun

spark ‎(plural sparks)

  1. A gallant, a foppish young man.
    • Prior
      The finest sparks and cleanest beaux.
  2. A beau, lover.

Verb

spark ‎(third-person singular simple present sparks, present participle sparking, simple past and past participle sparked)

  1. To woo, court.

Derived terms

References

  • Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, Springfield, Massachusetts, G.&C. Merriam Co., 1967

Anagrams

Danish

Etymology

From Old Norse spark, verbal noun to sparka ‎(“to kick”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /spark/, [sb̥ɑːɡ̊]

Noun

spark n (singular definite sparket, plural indefinite spark)

  1. kick

Inflection

Verb

spark

  1. imperative of sparke

Faroese

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /spaɹ̥k/

Noun

spark n (genitive singular sparks, plural spørk)

  1. kick

Declension

n5 Singular Plural
Indefinite Definite Indefinite Definite
Nominative spark sparkið spørk spørkini
Accusative spark sparkið spørk spørkini
Dative sparki sparkinum spørkum spørkunum
Genitive sparks sparksins sparka sparkanna

Derived terms

Icelandic

Etymology

From sparka ‎(“to kick”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈspar̥k/
  • Rhymes: -ar̥k

Noun

spark n ‎(genitive singular sparks, nominative plural spörk)

  1. kick

Declension

Norwegian Bokmål

Noun

spark n ‎(definite singular sparket, indefinite plural spark, definite plural sparka or sparkene)

  1. a kick (with a foot)

Related terms

Derived terms

Verb

spark

  1. imperative of sparke

Norwegian Nynorsk

Noun

spark n ‎(definite singular sparket, indefinite plural spark, definite plural sparka)

  1. a kick (with a foot)

Derived terms

Swedish

Etymology

From Old Norse spark, from sparka ‎(“to kick”).

Noun

spark c

  1. kick

Declension

Inflection of spark 
Singular Plural
Indefinite Definite Indefinite Definite
Nominative spark sparken sparkar sparkarna
Genitive sparks sparkens sparkars sparkarnas

Etymology

From Middle English sparke, sperke, from Old English spearca, from Proto-Germanic *sparkô, *sprakô (compare Dutch spark and sprank, Middle Low German sparke), 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”), Persian پراکن ‎(parākan, “scatter, spread”), Avestan [script needed] ‎(frasparega, “branch, twig”), Sanskrit पर्जन्य ‎(parjanya, “rain, rain god”)).

Pronunciation

Similar Results