spark

English

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From Middle English sparke, sperke, from Old English spearca, from Proto-Germanic *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 𐬟𐬭𐬀𐬯𐬞𐬀𐬭𐬈𐬔𐬀‎ (frasparega, “branch, twig”), Sanskrit पर्जन्य (parjanya, “rain, rain god”)).

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 or romantic affection, 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, funk
  • (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
Translations

Etymology 2

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

Noun

spark (plural sparks)

  1. A gallant, a foppish young man.
  2. A beau, lover.

Verb

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

  1. (intransitive) To woo, court; to act the gallant or beau.

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

Declension of spark
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)

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

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