spark en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /ˈspɑːk/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (US) audio
- [ˈspɑɹk] (General-American)
- /ˈspɑɹk/ (General-American)
- [ˈspɑːk] (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-West Germanic *sparkō Old English spearca Middle English sparke English spark From Middle English sparke, sperke, from Old English spearca, from Proto-West Germanic *sparkō (compare Saterland Frisian Spoorke, West Frisian spark, Dutch spark, German Low German Sparke, German Sparke), perhaps from Proto-Germanic *sparkaz (“lively, energetic”), 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”)).
Meanings
- A small particle of glowing matter, either molten or on fire, resulting from an electrical surge or excessive heat created by friction.
- A short or small burst of electrical discharge.
- A small, shining body, or transient light; a sparkle.
-
(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.
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.
2013 September 1, Phil McNulty, BBC Sport:, Book IV, Chapter XVII But though we have, here and there, a little of this clear light, some sparks of bright knowledge
When the latter disk showed some sparks, Moman contacted MGM's Jim Vienneau, who picked up the waxing for national release.
1990, Wayne Jancik, The Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders, →ISBN, page 173:if any spark of life be yet remaining
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]:
- Any of various lycaenid butterflies of the Indomalayan genus Sinthusa.
- (qualifier:in the plural sparks but treated as a singular) A ship's radio operator.
-
(UK, slang) An electrician.
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.
1999, Des Lyver, Graham Swainson, Basics of Video Lighting, page 103:
- A small collection of cells which briefly appears at the edge of a larger pattern before dying off.
- (in-plural, obsolete, qualifier:thieves' cant) A diamond, especially one set in a piece of jewellery.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| sparks | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
vital spark · spark gap · spark anglemouth · spark plug · sparklike · spark spread · sparkline · sparktastic · bright spark · spark testing · spark transmitter · antispark · sparks fly · sparkie · spark test · sparkler · spark knock · ocular spark · microspark · nanospark · sparky · spark up · macrospark · jump spark · spunk · sparkless · spark of life · spark bird · belly spark · sparkful · spark out · spark coil · sparkproof · sparkle · spark arrester · spark arrestor · sparkover
Descendants
Synonyms
lick · iota · beginning · sprinkle · tinge · twink · inch · scintilla · scruple · spark · scintilla · mote · scrap · dash · speckle · dot · ounce · tuppence worth · tidbit · ember · juicer · pinch · modicum · dab · hoot · skerrick · ooch · bit · cinder · flyspeck · relish · funk · sparklet · semblance · particle · vestige · pennyworth · glimmer · scooch · scantling · scintillation · dusting · soupçon · smattering · scintilla · thought · tidge · skosh · glint · germ · sliver · jot · flip · smithereen · crumb · skoosh · trifle · sparky · smidget · trace · shred · ace · scent · glimmer · spatter · tad · piece · glimpse · continental · grain · whiff · strain · speck · hint · spot · gnast · diddly · molecule · damn · mite · sprinkling · drop · atomy · touch · aught · morsel · smidgen · fleck · hooter · whit · toddick · glint · smidge · halfpennyworth · smidgy · atom · tittle · morceau · smitch · bissel
Translations (223)
tr kıvılcım (figurative: small amount of something, which has the potential to become something greater) · pt chispa (particle of glowing matter) · gl faísca (burst of electrical discharge) · cmn 微量 (figurative: small amount of something, which has the potential to become something greater) · tr şerare (particle of glowing matter) · cs jiskra (burst of electrical discharge) · he נִיצוֹץ (burst of electrical discharge) · hy կայծ (particle of glowing matter) · ar شَرَارَة (particle of glowing matter) · tt очкын (particle of glowing matter) · cy gwreichionen (particle of glowing matter) · scn faiḍḍa (particle of glowing matter) · fa-ira شَرارِه (particle of glowing matter) · mn оч (particle of glowing matter) · es chispa (burst of electrical discharge) · hsb škra (particle of glowing matter) · ang fȳrgnāst (particle of glowing matter) · sh várnica (particle of glowing matter) · fa-ira جَرَقِّه (particle of glowing matter) · alt кымын (particle of glowing matter) · sh iskra (burst of electrical discharge) · ko 스파크 (burst of electrical discharge) · cs jiskra (particle of glowing matter) · nn gneiste (burst of electrical discharge) · tr kıvılcım (burst of electrical discharge) · arz شرارة (particle of glowing matter) · mzn سریکه (particle of glowing matter) · sq shkëndijë (burst of electrical discharge) · hy ռադիստ (informal: ship's radio operator) · da gnist (particle of glowing matter) · wa flamaxhe (particle of glowing matter) · gl musca (burst of electrical discharge) · he זִיק (particle of glowing matter) · fo neisti (particle of glowing matter) · tk uçgun (particle of glowing matter) · ml തീപ്പൊരി (particle of glowing matter) · sh и̏скра (particle of glowing matter) · fa-ira اَخْگَر (particle of glowing matter) · sq xixë (particle of glowing matter) · tt очкын (burst of electrical discharge) · bg и́скра (particle of glowing matter) · bg искра́ (particle of glowing matter) · ta மின்பொறி (burst of electrical discharge) · lnj mwi (particle of glowing matter) · lo ລູກໄຟ (particle of glowing matter) · ckb پِرشِنگ (particle of glowing matter) · kk ұшқын (particle of glowing matter) · my မီးပွား (particle of glowing matter) · sh varnica (burst of electrical discharge) · fa-ira اِسْپیرْک (burst of electrical discharge) · nn gneiste (particle of glowing matter) · ga spréach (burst of electrical discharge) · km កំទេចភ្លើង (particle of glowing matter) · hi चिंगारी (particle of glowing matter) · my မီးပွား (figurative: small amount of something, which has the potential to become something greater) · pl iskra (particle of glowing matter) · ta நெருப்புப்பொறி (particle of glowing matter) · mk и́скра (particle of glowing matter) · ja スパーク (particle of glowing matter) · rsk искра (particle of glowing matter) · ta பொறி (particle of glowing matter) · sh жи̏жица (particle of glowing matter) · gl funisca (burst of electrical discharge) · fi kipinä (burst of electrical discharge) · it scintilla (particle of glowing matter) · cmn 火花 (particle of glowing matter) · ltg spierksts (particle of glowing matter) · ur چِن٘گاری (particle of glowing matter) · pt faúlha (particle of glowing matter) · lt kibirkštis (particle of glowing matter) · xcl կայծ (burst of electrical discharge) · mi korā (particle of glowing matter) · fr étincelle (figurative: small amount of something, which has the potential to become something greater) · sh ва́рница (particle of glowing matter) · bg и́скра (burst of electrical discharge) · es chiribita (particle of glowing matter) · sh жи́жа (particle of glowing matter) · da gnist (figurative: small amount of something, which has the potential to become something greater) · ta அனற்பொறி (particle of glowing matter) · pt faísca (burst of electrical discharge) · pt centelha (particle of glowing matter) · et säde (particle of glowing matter) · nb gnist (figurative: small amount of something, which has the potential to become something greater) · gl moxena (particle of glowing matter) · ga drithle (particle of glowing matter) · gld посин (particle of glowing matter) · vi tia lửa (particle of glowing matter) · da gnist (burst of electrical discharge) · es pavesa (particle of glowing matter) · la scintilla (particle of glowing matter) · dsb škrja (particle of glowing matter) · sq shtiaz (particle of glowing matter) · fr flammèche (particle of glowing matter) · el σπινθήρας (particle of glowing matter) · as ফিৰিঙটি (particle of glowing matter) · cy taniad (burst of electrical discharge) · sh искра (burst of electrical discharge) · tg шарора (particle of glowing matter) · fr étincelle (particle of glowing matter) · sq shkëndijë (particle of glowing matter) · be і́скра (particle of glowing matter) · ru искра́ (particle of glowing matter) · tt кыпкын (burst of electrical discharge) · ca guspira (particle of glowing matter) · ko 불꽃 (particle of glowing matter) · sw spaki (burst of electrical discharge) · ms bunga api (particle of glowing matter) · eo fajrero (particle of glowing matter) · ang spearca (particle of glowing matter) · prg spanxti (particle of glowing matter) · ja 火花 (particle of glowing matter) · enm sparke (particle of glowing matter) · xcl կայծակն (particle of glowing matter) · fa-ira اَبیز (particle of glowing matter) · gl funisca (particle of glowing matter) · wa spitron (particle of glowing matter) · eo sparko (burst of electrical discharge) · ltg dzierksts (particle of glowing matter) · bg искра́ (burst of electrical discharge) · ga splanc (figurative: small amount of something, which has the potential to become something greater) · sv gnista (particle of glowing matter) · de Funke (burst of electrical discharge) · is neisti (particle of glowing matter) · lua lusase (particle of glowing matter) · lu lusase (particle of glowing matter) · pt faísca (particle of glowing matter) · ca centella (burst of electrical discharge) · eu txinparta (particle of glowing matter) · ru искра́ (burst of electrical discharge) · io cintilo (particle of glowing matter) · cy gwreichionen (burst of electrical discharge) · lv dzirkstele (particle of glowing matter) · de Funke (particle of glowing matter) · hy կայծ (burst of electrical discharge) · rm sbrinzel (particle of glowing matter) · fi kipinä (particle of glowing matter) · es centella (burst of electrical discharge) · oc beluga (particle of glowing matter) · ca espurna (particle of glowing matter) · pt fagulha (particle of glowing matter) · scn faiḍḍa (burst of electrical discharge) · gl fírgoa (particle of glowing matter) · nl vuursprank (particle of glowing matter) · sl iskra (particle of glowing matter) · gl famelga (particle of glowing matter) · tt кыпкын (particle of glowing matter) · enm sparkel (figurative: small amount of something, which has the potential to become something greater) · ca guspira (figurative: small amount of something, which has the potential to become something greater) · grc σπινθήρ (particle of glowing matter) · ga splanc (particle of glowing matter) · ja スパーク (burst of electrical discharge) · uk і́скра (particle of glowing matter) · bho चिंगारी (particle of glowing matter) · nl vonk (burst of electrical discharge) · hsb škra (burst of electrical discharge) · ga spréach (particle of glowing matter) · cmn 火花 (burst of electrical discharge) · pdt Funk (particle of glowing matter) · nb gnist (informal: ship's radio operator) · it scintilla (figurative: small amount of something, which has the potential to become something greater) · nb gnist (particle of glowing matter) · tr şerare (burst of electrical discharge) · ky учкун (particle of glowing matter) · lo ປະກາຍ (particle of glowing matter) · ta தீப்பொறி (particle of glowing matter) · uz uchqun (particle of glowing matter) · ro scânteie (particle of glowing matter) · ca guspira (burst of electrical discharge) · ca espurna (figurative: small amount of something, which has the potential to become something greater) · es chispa (particle of glowing matter) · hu szikra (particle of glowing matter) · enm sparkel (particle of glowing matter) · sv gnista (burst of electrical discharge) · it scintilla (burst of electrical discharge) · ru паяльник (informal: ship's radio operator) · sh žȉžica (particle of glowing matter) · lv dzirksts (figurative: small amount of something, which has the potential to become something greater) · xcl կայծ (particle of glowing matter) · nl vonk (particle of glowing matter) · th ลูกไฟ (particle of glowing matter) · es centella (particle of glowing matter) · bg пробля́сък (figurative: small amount of something, which has the potential to become something greater) · ru и́скра (particle of glowing matter) · ka ნაპერწკალი (particle of glowing matter) · gl muxica (particle of glowing matter) · scn spisiḍḍa (particle of glowing matter) · ru эле́ктрик (informal: ship's radio operator) · vi tia lửa điện (burst of electrical discharge) · sh žíža (particle of glowing matter) · sc schinchidha (particle of glowing matter) · nl sprank (particle of glowing matter) · tr kıvılcım (particle of glowing matter) · sc scincidha (particle of glowing matter) · wa spite (particle of glowing matter) · ru про́блеск (figurative: small amount of something, which has the potential to become something greater) · dsb škrja (burst of electrical discharge) · oc scintila (particle of glowing matter) · lv dzirkstele (burst of electrical discharge) · gl faísca (particle of glowing matter) · wa blawete (particle of glowing matter) · nb gnist (burst of electrical discharge) · ug ئۇچقۇن (particle of glowing matter) · ms percikan (burst of electrical discharge) · rup scãntealje (particle of glowing matter) · az qığılcım (particle of glowing matter) · ja 火の粉 (particle of glowing matter) · ko 스파크 (particle of glowing matter) · ja 火花 (burst of electrical discharge) · xcl կայծակն (burst of electrical discharge) · alt кымын (burst of electrical discharge) · ru и́скра (burst of electrical discharge) · km ផ្កាភ្លើង (particle of glowing matter) · lb Fonk (particle of glowing matter) · af vonk (particle of glowing matter) · bn স্ফুলিঙ্গ (particle of glowing matter) · he גֵּץ (particle of glowing matter) · nn gneiste (figurative: small amount of something, which has the potential to become something greater) · sh ȉskra (particle of glowing matter) · sk iskra (particle of glowing matter) · ca espurna (burst of electrical discharge) · rup scãntealji (particle of glowing matter) · he נִיצוֹץ (particle of glowing matter) · th ประกาย (particle of glowing matter)