Dictionary

sparkle en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (UK) audio
• /ˈspɑː.kəl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈspɑɹ.kəl/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English sparkel, sparkle, sparcle, equivalent to spark + -le (diminutive suffix). In some modern uses deverbal from etymology 2 below.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) A little spark; a scintillation.
   • The shock was sufficiently strong to strike out some sparkles of his fiery temper. 1855–1858, William H[ickling] Prescott, History of the Reign of Philip the Second, King of Spain, volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Boston, Mass.: Phillips, Sampson, and Company, →OCLC:
   • The lamp was shaded, and the fire was dim, when suddenly the log, which had burnt through, gave way; a shower of sparkles rose from the hearth, and a bright blaze illuminated the room, falling full on Francesca's face, as she bent over the patient. 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XI, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 112:
   • As sparckles from the Anduile vse to fly, / When heauie hammers on the wedge are swaid 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto XI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 42:
2. (countable, uncountable) Brilliance; luster.
   • the sparkle of a diamond
3. (countable, uncountable) Liveliness; vivacity.
   • the sparkle of his conversation over dinner
4. (countable, uncountable) The quality of being sparkling or fizzy; effervescence.

Forms

Deriveds

sparkly · sparkleless · sparkleberry · sparklepire · sparklewolf · sea sparkle · sparkledog · sparklemuffin

Translations (70)

sv scintillationsfaktor (scintillation) · ca centella (scintillation) · bg блясък (brilliance) · bg искра (scintillation) · ka ბრწყინვა (brilliance) · ka ელვარება (brilliance) · es lustre (brilliance) · it splendore (brilliance) · fi säihke (brilliance) · ka კამკამი (scintillation) · ja 閃耀 (scintillation) · ka ჩახჩახი (brilliance) · ka ბრჭყვინვა (scintillation) · cmn 光彩 (brilliance) · tl kislap (scintillation) · ka კვესა (scintillation) · th ความแวววาว (brilliance) · pt brilho (brilliance) · ca brillantor (brilliance) · ru и́скорка (scintillation) · ka ბჟუტვა (scintillation) · es chispa (scintillation) · sv scintillation (scintillation) · ga splanc (brilliance) · cmn 光輝 /光辉 (brilliance) · ru сверка́ние (brilliance) · ka ბრჭყვინვა (brilliance) · ka გაელვება (scintillation) · ka ბრწყინვალება (brilliance) · sv briljans (brilliance) · bg искрене (scintillation) · th ความระยิบระยับ (brilliance) · ka კრთომა (scintillation) · sv gnista (brilliance) · ca brillor (brilliance) · ka ციმციმი (scintillation) · ja 光輝 (brilliance) · ka სცინტილაცია (scintillation) · ka გამოკრთომა (scintillation) · it lustro (brilliance) · cmn 閃耀 /闪耀 (scintillation) · tl antitilaw (scintillation) · grc ἀμάρυγξ (scintillation) · ga glioscarnach (brilliance) · fi välke (brilliance) · ca espurna (scintillation) · hy կայծ (scintillation) · pl blask (scintillation) · it sfavillio (scintillation) · ga drithle (scintillation) · th ประกาย (scintillation) · fi kimallus (scintillation) · ka კაშკაში (brilliance) · ro scânteie (scintillation) · de Glitzern (brilliance) · ga splanc (scintillation) · ka ციალი (scintillation) · sv glimmer (scintillation) · hi चमक (scintillation) · de Funkeln (brilliance) · pl blask (brilliance) · it scintillio (scintillation) · es destello (scintillation) · es brillo (brilliance) · pt cintilação (scintillation) · ka ბრწყინვა (scintillation) · cmn 閃爍 /闪烁 (scintillation) · ja 閃爍 (scintillation) · ka კიაფი (scintillation) · sv gnista (scintillation)

sparkle en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (UK) audio
• /ˈspɑː.kəl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈspɑɹ.kəl/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English sparklen, sperclen, equivalent to spark + -le (frequentative verb). Cognate with West Frisian sparkelje (“to sparkle”), Dutch sparkelen (“to sparkle”).

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To emit sparks; to throw off ignited or incandescent particles.
   • The wood was sparkling in the bonfire.
2. (broadly) To shine as if throwing off sparks; to emit flashes of light; to scintillate; to twinkle.
   • Here, in the transept and choir, where the service was being held, one was conscious every moment of an increasing brightness; colours glowing vividly beneath the circular chandeliers, and the rows of small lights on the choristers' desks flashed and sparkled in front of the boys' faces, deep linen collars, and red neckbands. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter V, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
   • The stars sparkle in the sky.
   • The light of the sun, already far down the horizon, makes the rock wall sparkle for a moment like pure gold. 1989 May, Uwe George, “Venezuela's Islands in Time”, in National Geographic, volume 175, number 5, page 535:
3. (intransitive) To manifest itself by, or as if by, emitting sparks; to glisten; to flash.
   • I see bright honour sparkle through your eyes. 1634, John Milton, “Arcades”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC:
4. (intransitive) To emit little bubbles, as certain kinds of liquors; to effervesce.
   • sparkling water
   • sparkling wine
5. (transitive) To emit in the form or likeness of sparks.
   • That the bright glister of their beames cleare / Did sparckle forth great light, and glorious did appeare. 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 32:
6. (obsolete, transitive) To disperse.
7. (obsolete, transitive) To scatter on or over.

Forms

Deriveds

asparkle · outsparkle · sparkling water · sparkler · sparkle up

Relateds

✨ · ❈ · ❇

Synonyms

glitter (glisten, flash) · glisten (glisten, flash) · shine (glisten, flash) · coruscate (glisten, flash) · radiate (glisten, flash) · twinkle (glisten, flash) · scintillate (glisten, flash)

Translations (55)

pt faiscar (to emit sparks) · ka ციმციმებს (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · pl iskrzyć (to emit sparks) · sv gnistra (to emit sparks) · ru искри́ться (to emit sparks) · pt centelhar (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · fi säteillä (to manifest as if by emitting sparks; glisten) · pt cintilar (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · bg бляскам (to manifest as if by emitting sparks; glisten) · sv moussera (to emit little bubbles) · th เปล่งประกาย (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · bg блещукам (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · ka კრთება (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · gl relucir (to manifest as if by emitting sparks; glisten) · ro scânteia (to emit sparks) · es escintilar (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · sv bubbla (to emit little bubbles) · fi kipinöidä (to emit sparks) · ka იელვებს (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · sv glimma (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · bg кипя (to emit little bubbles) · ka კიაფობს (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · fr luire (to manifest as if by emitting sparks; glisten) · la scintillō (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · sv glimra (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · de funkeln (to emit sparks) · pt fagulhar (to emit sparks) · ka კამკამებს (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · fi poreilla (to emit little bubbles) · sv gnistra (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · pl błyszczeć (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · pl skrzyć się (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · sv glittra (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · ka კრთის (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · gl escintilar (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · de funkeln (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · hi जगमगाना (to emit sparks) · gl relucir (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · pl lśnić (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · grc μαρμαίρω (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · qu achikyay (to emit sparks) · fi kimaltaa (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · bg шумя (to emit little bubbles) · es cintilar (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · hy փայլատակել (to emit sparks) · hi जगमगाना (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · ka ბჟუტავს (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · fr scintiller (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · pt centelhar (to emit sparks) · ka ციალებს (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · fi säteillä (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · pl musować (to emit little bubbles) · bg искря (to emit sparks) · chr ᎠᏙᏯᏩᏍᎦ (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate) · ang blīcan (to shine as if throwing off sparks; scintillate)