Meaning of the word spark

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘spark.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

English[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

• (General American) enPR: spärk, IPA^(key): /spɑɹk/
• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: späk, IPA^(key): /spɑːk/
• Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)k
• Homophone: SPARC

Etymology 1[edit]

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”), Avestan 𐬟𐬭𐬀𐬯𐬞𐬀𐬭𐬈𐬔𐬀‎ (frasparega, “branch, twig”), Sanskrit पर्जन्य (parjanya, “rain, rain god”)).

Noun[edit]

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.

   • c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene vi]:

     if any spark of life be yet remaining

   • , Book IV, Chapter XVII

     But though we have, here and there, a little of this clear light, some sparks of bright knowledge

   • 2013, Phil McNulty, «[1]», 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. Any of various lycaenid butterflies of the Indomalayan genus Sinthusa.
6. (in plural sparks but treated as a singular) A ship’s radio operator.
7. (UK, slang) An electrician.
   • 1999, Des Lyver, Graham Swainson, Basics of Video Lighting (page 103)

     At the other extreme, with limitless budgets all they have to do is dream up amazing lighting rigs to be constructed and operated by the huge team of gaffers and sparks, with their generators, discharge lights, flags, gobos and brutes.

Synonyms[edit]

• (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[edit]

Descendants[edit]

• → Esperanto: sparko

Translations[edit]

Verb[edit]

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

1. (transitive, figurative) To trigger, kindle into activity (an argument, etc).

   • 2012 May 5, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport‎^[2]:

     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.
   • 2009, Alex Jenson, The Serotonin Grand Prix (page 12)

     Byron sparked the cigarette. He sucked it dramatically and thrust it into Marko’s hand.

3. (transitive, of a gun) To shoot; to fire

   • 1998 November 10, “Grid Iron Rap”, in Tical 2000: Judgement Day‎^[3], performed by Method Man,Streetlife (rapper):

     [Streetlife]:Fuck a peace talk, let the gun spark, on the streets of New York.

   • 2004, “U Ain’t A Killer”, in The War Mixtape‎^[4], performed by Akala (rapper):

     All of a sudden, everybody tuggin’, everybody dark. Everybody gums runnin’, ’til the guns spark.

   • 2022 February 22, “Raw Hip Hop”, in IMAMCRU12‎^[5], performed by KRS-One:

     Guns spark in the dark, it was all just a part of the eighties Bronx scene that created all.

4. (intransitive) To give off a spark or sparks.

Derived terms[edit]

• spark off
• sparkle

Translations[edit]

Etymology 2[edit]

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

Noun[edit]

spark (plural sparks)

1. A gallant; a foppish young man.

   • The finest sparks and cleanest beaux.

   • Jones had no sooner quitted the room, than the petty-fogger, in a whispering tone, asked Mrs Whitefield, “If she knew who that fine spark was?”

   • 1777, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, I.ii:

     He will retrieve his errors yet—their worthy Father, once my honour’d master, was at his years nearly as wild a spark.

2. A beau, lover.

Verb[edit]

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

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

Synonyms[edit]

• make love, romance, solicit; see also Thesaurus:woo

Derived terms[edit]

• sparkish
• sparker

References[edit]

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

Anagrams[edit]

• K-spar, Karps, Parks, Praks, parks

Danish[edit]

Etymology[edit]

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

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /spark/, [sb̥ɑːɡ̊]

Noun[edit]

spark n (singular definite sparket, plural indefinite spark)

1. kick

Inflection[edit]

Verb[edit]

spark

1. imperative of sparke

Faroese[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /spaɹ̥k/

Noun[edit]

spark n (genitive singular sparks, plural spørk)

1. kick

Declension[edit]

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[edit]

Icelandic[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From sparka (“to kick”).

Pronunciation[edit]

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

Noun[edit]

spark n (genitive singular sparks, nominative plural spörk)

1. kick

Declension[edit]

Middle English[edit]

Noun[edit]

spark

1. Alternative form of sparke

Norwegian Bokmål[edit]

Noun[edit]

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

1. a kick (with a foot)
2. Short for sparkstøtting (“kicksled”).

Derived terms[edit]

• brassespark
• frispark
• hjørnespark
• straffespark

[edit]

• sparke

Verb[edit]

spark

1. imperative of sparke

Norwegian Nynorsk[edit]

Noun[edit]

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

1. a kick (with a foot)
2. Short for sparkstøtting (“kicksled”).

Derived terms[edit]

• brassespark
• frispark
• hjørnespark
• straffespark

Swedish[edit]

Etymology[edit]

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

Noun[edit]

spark c

1. kick
2. Short for sparkstötting (“kicksled”).
3. (in «få sparken») (to be given) the boot (get fired from work)

Declension[edit]

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

Anagrams[edit]

• karps, parks, skarp

Britannica Dictionary definition of SPARK

Britannica Dictionary definition of SPARK

spark ¹

 (spärk)

n.

1. An incandescent particle, especially:

a. One thrown off from a burning substance.

b. One resulting from friction.

c. One remaining in an otherwise extinguished fire; an ember.

2. A glistening particle, as of metal.

3.

a. A flash of light, especially a flash produced by electric discharge.

b. A short pulse or flow of electric current.

4. A trace or suggestion, as:

a. A quality or feeling with latent potential; a seed or germ: the spark of genius.

b. A vital, animating, or activating factor: the spark of revolution.

5. sparks(used with a sing. verb) Informal A radio operator aboard a ship.

6. Electricity

a. The luminous phenomenon resulting from a disruptive discharge through an insulating material.

b. The discharge itself.

v. sparked, spark·ing, sparks

v.intr.

1. To give off sparks.

2. To operate correctly. Used of the ignition system of an internal-combustion engine.

v.tr.

1. To set in motion; activate: The incident sparked a controversy.

2. To rouse to action; spur: A cheering crowd sparked the runner to triumph.

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[Middle English sparke, from Old English spearca. V., from Middle English sparken, from Old English spearcian.]

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spark′er n.

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spark ²

 (spärk) Archaic

n.

1. An elegantly dressed, highly self-conscious young man.

2. A male suitor; a beau.

v. sparked, spark·ing, sparks

v.intr.

To court a woman or women.

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[Perhaps of Scandinavian origin or from spark.]

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spark′er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

spark

(spɑːk)

n

1. a fiery particle thrown out or left by burning material or caused by the friction of two hard surfaces

2. (Electronics)

a. a momentary flash of light accompanied by a sharp crackling noise, produced by a sudden electrical discharge through the air or some other insulating medium between two points

b. the electrical discharge itself

c. (as modifier): a spark gap.

3. anything that serves to animate, kindle, or excite

4. a trace or hint: she doesn’t show a spark of interest.

5. vivacity, enthusiasm, or humour

6. (Ceramics) a small piece of diamond, as used in the cutting of glass

vb

7. (intr) to give off sparks

8. (Automotive Engineering) (intr) (of the sparking plug or ignition system of an internal-combustion engine) to produce a spark

9. (often foll by: off) to kindle, excite, or animate

[Old English spearca; related to Middle Low German sparke, Middle Dutch spranke, Lettish spirgsti cinders, Latin spargere to strew]

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spark

(spɑːk)

n

1. a fashionable or gallant young man

2. bright spark usually ironic Brit a person who appears clever or witty: some bright spark left the papers next to the open window.

[C16 (in the sense: beautiful or witty woman): perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse sparkr vivacious]

ˈsparkish adj

---

Spark

(spɑːk)

n

(Biography) Dame Muriel (Sarah). 1918–2006, British novelist and writer; her novels include Memento Mori (1959), The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1961), The Takeover (1976), A Far Cry from Kensington (1988), Symposium (1990), and The Finishing School (2004)

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

spark¹

(spɑrk)

n.

1. an ignited or fiery particle such as is thrown off by burning wood or produced by one hard body striking against another.

2.

a. the light produced by a sudden discontinuous discharge of electricity through air or another dielectric.

b. the discharge itself.

c. any electric arc of relatively small energy content.

d. the electric discharge produced by a spark plug in an internal-combustion engine.

3. anything that activates or stimulates; an inspiration or catalyst.

4. a small amount or trace of something.

5. a trace of life or vitality.

6. animation; liveliness.

7. sparks, (used with a sing. v.) Slang. a radio operator on a ship or aircraft.

v.i.

8. to emit or produce sparks.

9. to issue as or like sparks.

10. to send forth gleams or flashes.

11. (of the ignition of an internal-combustion engine) to function correctly in producing sparks.

v.t.

12. to kindle, animate, or stimulate: to spark someone’s enthusiasm.

[before 900; (n.) Middle English; Old English spearca, c. Middle Dutch, Middle Low German sparke]

spark′er, n.

spark²

(spɑrk)

n.

1. a lively, elegant, or foppish young man.

2. a beau, lover, or suitor.

[1565–75; perhaps figurative use of spark¹, or < Old Norse sparkr quick, lively]

spark′ish, adj.

Spark

(spɑrk)

n.

Muriel (Sarah) (Camberg), born 1918, British novelist, born in Scotland.

Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

spark

Past participle: sparked
Gerund: sparking

Imperative
spark
spark

Present
I spark
you spark
he/she/it sparks
we spark
you spark
they spark

Preterite
I sparked
you sparked
he/she/it sparked
we sparked
you sparked
they sparked

Present Continuous
I am sparking
you are sparking
he/she/it is sparking
we are sparking
you are sparking
they are sparking

Present Perfect
I have sparked
you have sparked
he/she/it has sparked
we have sparked
you have sparked
they have sparked

Past Continuous
I was sparking
you were sparking
he/she/it was sparking
we were sparking
you were sparking
they were sparking

Past Perfect
I had sparked
you had sparked
he/she/it had sparked
we had sparked
you had sparked
they had sparked

Future
I will spark
you will spark
he/she/it will spark
we will spark
you will spark
they will spark

Future Perfect
I will have sparked
you will have sparked
he/she/it will have sparked
we will have sparked
you will have sparked
they will have sparked

Future Continuous
I will be sparking
you will be sparking
he/she/it will be sparking
we will be sparking
you will be sparking
they will be sparking

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been sparking
you have been sparking
he/she/it has been sparking
we have been sparking
you have been sparking
they have been sparking

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been sparking
you will have been sparking
he/she/it will have been sparking
we will have been sparking
you will have been sparking
they will have been sparking

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been sparking
you had been sparking
he/she/it had been sparking
we had been sparking
you had been sparking
they had been sparking

Conditional
I would spark
you would spark
he/she/it would spark
we would spark
you would spark
they would spark

Past Conditional
I would have sparked
you would have sparked
he/she/it would have sparked
we would have sparked
you would have sparked
they would have sparked

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Translations

искра, вспышка, щеголь, радист, проблеск, искриться, искрить, зажигать, побуждать

существительное ↓

глагол ↓

Словосочетания

spark of genius — проблеск гениальности  
flicker / glimmer / ray / spark of hope — проблеск надежды  
flash / spark of inspiration — искра вдохновенья  
tiny spark — искорка  
to emit / produce a spark — испускать искры  
the spark that set off the war — искра, от которой разгорелась война  
spark at breaking — искра размыкания  
to quench a spark — гасить искру  
spark arrester — искрогаситель, искроуловитель  
spark coil — индукционная катушка, индуктор  

Примеры с переводом

Примеры, ожидающие перевода

Возможные однокоренные слова

sparks  — радист, электрик
sparker  — влюбленный, поклонник, индукционная катушка, спаркер
sparking  — искрение, искрообразование, зажигание, искровые разряды
sparkless  — не искрящий, не дающий вспышки, безыскровой, безыскровый
sparky  — живой, оживленный, электрик

Формы слова

verb
I/you/we/they: spark
he/she/it: sparks
ing ф. (present participle): sparking
2-я ф. (past tense): sparked
3-я ф. (past participle): sparked

noun
ед. ч.(singular): spark
мн. ч.(plural): sparks