Adjacent Words

Spark definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SP'ARK, n. [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, v.i. To emit particles of fire; to sparkle. [Not in use.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a momentary flash of light [syn: flicker, spark, glint]
2: merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance; "he had a sparkle in his eye"; "there's a perpetual twinkle in his eyes" [syn: sparkle, twinkle, spark, light]
3: electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field [syn: discharge, spark, arc, electric arc, electric discharge]
4: a small but noticeable trace of some quality that might become stronger; "a spark of interest"; "a spark of decency"
5: Scottish writer of satirical novels (born in 1918) [syn: Spark, Muriel Spark, Dame Muriel Spark, Muriel Sarah Spark]
6: a small fragment of a burning substance thrown out by burning material or by friction v
1: put in motion or move to act; "trigger a reaction"; "actuate the circuits" [syn: trip, actuate, trigger, activate, set off, spark off, spark, trigger off, touch off]
2: emit or produce sparks; "A high tension wire, brought down by a storm, can continue to spark" [syn: spark, sparkle]

Merriam Webster's

biographical name Muriel Sarah 1918- née Camberg British writer

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English sparke, from Old English spearca; akin to Middle Dutch sparke spark and perhaps to Latin spargere to scatter Date: before 12th century 1. a. a small particle of a burning substance thrown out by a body in combustion or remaining when combustion is nearly completed b. a hot glowing particle struck from a larger mass; especially one heated by friction 2. a. a luminous disruptive electrical discharge of very short duration between two conductors separated by a gas (as air) b. the discharge in a spark plug c. the mechanism controlling the discharge in a spark plug 3. sparkle, flash 4. something that sets off a sudden force <provided the spark that helped the team to rally> 5. a latent particle capable of growth or developing ; germ <still retains a spark of decency> 6. plural but singular in construction a radio operator on a ship II. verb Date: 13th century intransitive verb 1. a. to throw out sparks b. to flash or fall like sparks 2. to produce sparks; specifically to have the electric ignition working 3. to respond with enthusiasm transitive verb 1. to set off in a burst of activity ; activate <the question sparked a lively discussion> — often used with off 2. to stir to activity ; incite <sparked her team to victory> • sparker noun III. noun Etymology: perhaps from ¹spark Date: circa 1600 1. a foppish young man 2. lover, beau • sparkish adjective IV. verb Date: 1787 woo, court • sparker noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. & v. --n. 1 a fiery particle thrown off from a fire, or alight in ashes, or produced by a flint, match, etc. 2 (often foll. by of) a particle of a quality etc. (not a spark of life; a spark of interest). 3 Electr. a a light produced by a sudden disruptive discharge through the air etc. b such a discharge serving to ignite the explosive mixture in an internal-combustion engine. 4 a a flash of wit etc. b anything causing interest, excitement, etc. c (also bright spark) a witty or lively person. 5 a small bright object or point, e.g. in a gem. 6 (Sparks) a nickname for a radio operator or an electrician. --v. 1 intr. emit sparks of fire or electricity. 2 tr. (often foll. by off) stir into activity; initiate (a process) suddenly. 3 intr. Electr. produce sparks at the point where a circuit is interrupted. Phrases and idioms: spark chamber an apparatus designed to show ionizing particles. spark-gap the space between electric terminals where sparks occur. sparking-plug Brit. = spark-plug. spark-plug a device for firing the explosive mixture in an internal-combustion engine. Derivatives: sparkless adj. sparky adj. Etymology: ME f. OE spærca, spearca 2. n. & v. --n. 1 a lively young fellow. 2 a gallant, a beau. --v.intr. play the gallant. Derivatives: sparkish adj. Etymology: prob. a fig. use of SPARK(1)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Spark Spark, v. i. (Elec.) To produce, or give off, sparks, as a dynamo at the commutator when revolving under the collecting brushes.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Spark Spark, v. i. To sparkle. [Obs.] --Spenser.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Spark Spark, v. 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's 1913 Dictionary

Spark Spark, n. [OE. sparke, AS. spearca; akin to D. spark, sperk; cf. Icel. spraka to crackle, Lith. sprag["e]ti, Gr. ? a bursting with a noise, Skr. sph?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.]

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(sparks, sparking, sparked) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. A spark is a tiny bright piece of burning material that flies up from something that is burning. The fire gradually got bigger and bigger. Sparks flew off in all directions. N-COUNT 2. A spark is a flash of light caused by electricity. It often makes a loud sound. He passed an electric spark through a mixture of gases. N-COUNT 3. If something sparks, sparks of fire or light come from it. The wires were sparking above me... I stared into the flames of the fire as it sparked to life. VERB: V, V prep 4. If a burning object or electricity sparks a fire, it causes a fire. A dropped cigarette may have sparked the fire. = start VERB: V n 5. A spark of a quality or feeling, especially a desirable one, is a small but noticeable amount of it. His music lacked that vital spark of imagination... N-COUNT: N of n 6. If one thing sparks another, the first thing causes the second thing to start happening. What was it that sparked your interest in motoring?... ...a row sparked by a comment about his sister. = cause VERB: V n, V-ed • Spark off means the same as spark. That incident sparked it off... His book, Animal Liberation, sparked off a revolution in the way we think about animals. PHRASAL VERB: V n P, V P n (not pron) 7. see also bright spark 8. If sparks fly between people, they discuss something in an excited or angry way. They are not afraid to tackle the issues or let the sparks fly when necessary. PHRASE: V inflects

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

spark.

See LEVIATHAN.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Sparkle, scintillation, particle of fire, scintilla. 2. Germ, element, active principle, seed, beginning. 3. Gallant, beau, lover. 4. Buck, beau, dashing, fellow, dandy.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

A spruce, trim, or smart fellow. A man that is always thirsty, is said to have a spark in his throat.

Moby Thesaurus

AC arc, Beau Brummel, Poulsen arc, abettor, activate, actuate, actuator, address, animate, animator, aperiodic discharge, arc, arc column, arc discharge, atom, bake, be in heat, beau, begin, blade, blaze, blink, blinking, blood, bloom, boil, boulevardier, bring about, broil, brush discharge, bud, burn, cajoler, cast, chase, choke, clotheshorse, coax, coaxer, combust, compel, cook, coruscate, coruscation, court, coxcomb, dandy, dash, discharge, disruptive discharge, dude, electric discharge, electric shock, electric spark, electrify, electrodeless discharge, embryo, encourager, energize, energizer, enkindle, esquire, excite, exquisite, fashion plate, fine gentleman, fire, firefly, firer, flame, flame up, flare, flare up, flicker, flush, follow, fop, force, foster, fribble, fry, gadfly, gallant, galvanic shock, galvanize, galvanizer, gasp, germ, gleam, glimmer, glimmering, glint, glisk, glisten, glister, glitter, glittering, glow, glow discharge, glowworm, hint, idea, ignite, impel, impeller, incandesce, inducer, initiate, inspire, inspirer, inspirit, intimation, iota, jack-a-dandy, jackanapes, kindle, lady-killer, lay siege to, lick, light the fuse, look, macaroni, make suit to, make up to, man-about-town, masher, motivate, move, move to action, mover, moving spirit, nucleus, oscillatory discharge, pant, parch, pay attention to, pay court to, persuader, pleader, precipitate, prime mover, promote, prompter, propel, provoke, puppy, pursue, radiate heat, roast, scald, scintilla, scintillate, scintillation, scorch, seethe, serenade, set in motion, set off, shade, shadow, shimmer, shimmer with heat, shimmering, shock, silent discharge, simmer, sip, smack, smattering, smell, smolder, smother, soupcon, spangle, spark gap, spark plug, sparker, sparkle, speck, sport, sprinkling, squire, start up, steam, stew, stifle, stimulate, stimulator, stroboscopic light, sue, suffocate, suggestion, sup, suspicion, swain, sweat, sweetheart, swell, swelter, taste, tempter, thought, tincture, tinge, tinsel, toast, touch, touch off, trace, trigger, twinkle, twinkling, vestige, wheedler, whit, woo, wooer