Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense sparks, present participle sparking, past tense, past participle sparked
1. countable noun
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.
Synonyms: flicker, flash, gleam, glint More Synonyms of spark
2. countable noun
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.
3. verb
If something sparks, sparks of fire or light come from it.
The wires were sparking above me. [VERB]
I stared into the flames of the fire as it sparked to life. [VERB preposition]
4. verb
If a burning object or electricity sparks a fire, it causes a fire.
A dropped cigarette may have sparked the fire. [VERB noun]
5. countable noun
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. [+ of]
Even Oliver felt a tiny spark of excitement.
Synonyms: trace, hint, scrap, atom More Synonyms of spark
6. verb
If one thing sparks another, the first thing causes the second thing to start happening.
What was it that sparked your interest in motoring? [VERB noun]
The proposals are expected to spark heated debate. [VERB noun]
...a row sparked by a comment about his sister. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: start, stimulate, provoke, excite More Synonyms of spark
Spark off means the same as spark.
That incident sparked it off. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
His book sparked off a revolution in the way we think about animals. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
...a political crisis sparked off by religious violence. [VERB-ed]
7. See also bright spark
8.
See sparks fly
Phrasal verbs:
See spark off
spark in British English1
(spɑːk)
noun
1.
a fiery particle thrown out or left by burning material or caused by the friction of two hard surfaces
2.
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.
a small piece of diamond, as used in the cutting of glass
verb
7. (intransitive)
to give off sparks
8. (intransitive)
(of the sparking plug or ignition system of an internal-combustion engine) to produce a spark
9. (transitive; often foll byoff)
to kindle, excite, or animate
Word origin
Old English spearca; related to Middle Low German sparke, Middle Dutch spranke, Lettish spirgsti cinders, Latin spargere to strew
spark in British English2
(spɑːk)
noun rare
1.
a fashionable or gallant young man
2. bright spark
verb
3. rare
to woo (a person)
Derived forms
sparkish (ˈsparkish)
adjective
sparkishly (ˈsparkishly)
adverb
Word origin
C16 (in the sense: beautiful or witty woman): perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compareOld Norse sparkr vivacious
Spark in British English
(spɑːk)
noun
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)
Spark in American English
(spɑrk)
Dame Muriel (Sarah)(born Muriel Sarah Camberg) 1918-2006; Brit. writer
spark in American English1
(spɑrk)
noun
1.
a glowing bit of matter, esp. one thrown off by a fire
2.
any flash or sparkle of light like this
3.
a tiny beginning or vestige, as of life, interest, excitement, etc.; particle or trace
4.
liveliness; vivacity
5. Electricity
a.
a very brief flash of light accompanying an electric discharge through air or some other insulating material, as between the electrodes of a spark plug
b.
such a discharge
6. US; [pl., with sing. v.]; Slang
a ship's radio operator
verb intransitive
7.
to make or throw off sparks
8.
to come forth as or like sparks
9.
to produce the sparks properly
said of the spark plug in an internal combustion engine
verb transitive
10.
to serve as the activating or animating influence of or in; stir up; activate
to spark interest
Derived forms
sparker (ˈsparker)
noun
Word origin
ME sperke < OE spearca, akin to MDu sparke < IE base *sp(h)er(e)-g-, to strew, sprinkle > sprinkle, L spargere
spark in American English2
(spɑrk)
noun OLD-FASHIONED
1.
a dashing, gallant young man
2.
a beau or lover
verb transitive, verb intransitive US
3. Informal, Obsolete
to court, woo, pet, etc.
Derived forms
sparker (ˈsparker)
noun
Word origin
ON sparkr, lively: for IE base see spark1
More idioms containing
spark
a bright spark
COBUILD Collocations
spark
creative spark
Examples of 'spark' in a sentence
spark
Sparks fly when you are reunited with a friend.
The Sun (2013)
The comments sparked outrage after a transcript was released.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But the interest in war sparked attention to improved weaponry.
Stearns, Peter N. World History: Patterns of Change and Continuity (1995)
She sparked our imaginations and encouraged creative writing.
The Sun (2011)
That would have opened up the possibility of loose wires sparking the fire.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
What it lacks is any real spark of excitement.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
So obviously some bright spark closed that too.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The agency said it feared the gush could spark an electrical fault and lock the barrier down.
The Sun (2015)
Then a small irritation will spark an avalanche of frustration and action.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Now that spark can come from anywhere.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They explode in the dark in tiny electric sparks.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Once you were neighbours but love sparks fly when you meet again.
The Sun (2009)
His comment sparked fears of chaos if queries swamp exam bodies.
The Sun (2010)
Let this burden your mind and spark your imagination.
Christianity Today (2000)
The accident was caused by an electrical spark in an environment of pure oxygen.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Legacy projects succeed when they spark excitement and a change in attitudes about what education can lead to.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
What sparked his interest in leadership?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Instead they're cheerfully sparking more cigarettes and dragging in chairs for a better view.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
THE crime website some bright spark set up this week crashed the moment it went online.
The Sun (2011)
She sparks up a cigarette.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The spokesman said: 'There is always that tiny spark of hope.
The Sun (2008)
In other languages
spark
British English: spark /spɑːk/ NOUN
A spark is a tiny bright piece of burning material that flies up from something that is burning.
Sparks flew out of the fire in all directions.
American English: spark
Arabic: شَرَّارَة
Brazilian Portuguese: centelha
Chinese: 火花
Croatian: iskra
Czech: jiskra
Danish: gnist
Dutch: vonk
European Spanish: chispa
Finnish: kipinä
French: étincelle
German: Funke
Greek: σπίθα
Italian: scintilla
Japanese: 火花
Korean: 불꽃
Norwegian: gnist
Polish: iskra
European Portuguese: centelha
Romanian: scânteie
Russian: искра
Latin American Spanish: chispa
Swedish: gnista
Thai: ประกายไฟ
Turkish: kıvılcım
Ukrainian: іскра
Vietnamese: tia lửa
British English: spark VERB
If something sparks, sparks of fire or light come from it.
The wires were sparking above me.
American English: spark
Brazilian Portuguese: faiscar
Chinese: 发出火花
European Spanish: echar chispas
French: faire des étincelles
German: zünden
Italian: fare scintille
Japanese: 火花を散らす
Korean: 불꽃이 튀다
European Portuguese: faiscar
Latin American Spanish: echar chispas
All related terms of 'spark'
spark gap
the space between two electrodes across which a spark can jump
spark off
to bring into being or action; activate or initiate
spark coil
an induction coil used to produce spark discharges
spark plug
A spark plug is a device in the engine of a motor vehicle , which produces electric sparks to make the petrol burn .
bright spark
If you say that some bright spark had a particular idea or did something, you mean that their idea or action was clever, or that it seemed clever but was silly in some way.
spark chamber
a device for detecting ionizing radiation , consisting of two oppositely charged metal plates in a chamber containing inert gas , so that a particle passing through the chamber ionizes the gas and causes a spark to jump between the electrodes
spark erosion
a method of machining using a shaped electrode which erodes the workpiece by an electric spark discharge between itself and the workpiece
creative spark
A spark of a quality or feeling, especially a desirable one, is a small but noticeable amount of it.
spark a fire
Fire or a fire is an occurrence of uncontrolled burning which destroys buildings, forests , or other things.
spark arrester
any device used to prevent sparks from escaping , as from a chimney
spark criticism
Criticism is the action of expressing disapproval of something or someone. A criticism is a statement that expresses disapproval.
a bright spark
an intelligent and lively person
spark a battle
A battle is a conflict in which different people or groups compete in order to achieve success or control.
spark a blaze
A blaze is a large fire which is difficult to control and which destroys a lot of things.
spark a crisis
A crisis is a situation in which something or someone is affected by one or more very serious problems.
spark a frenzy
Frenzy or a frenzy is great excitement or wild behaviour that often results from losing control of your feelings.
spark celebrations
A celebration is a special enjoyable event that people organize because something pleasant has happened or because it is someone's birthday or anniversary .
spark transmitter
an early type of radio transmitter in which power is generated by discharging a capacitor through an inductor in series with a spark gap
spark a backlash
A backlash against a tendency or recent development in society or politics , is a sudden, strong reaction against it.
spark a complaint
A complaint is a statement in which you express your dissatisfaction with a particular situation.
spark a reaction
Your reaction to something that has happened or something that you have experienced is what you feel, say , or do because of it.
spark ignition engine
A spark ignition engine is an engine running on the Otto cycle .
sparking plug
a device screwed into the cylinder head of an internal-combustion engine to ignite the explosive mixture by means of an electric spark which jumps across a gap between a point earthed to the body of the plug and the tip of a central insulated rod