gap /gap/

1. An opening or breach
2. A cleft
3. A passage
4. A notch or pass in a mountain ridge
5. A gorge (US)
6. A break in continuity
7. An interval
8. An unfilled space, a lack
9. A divergence, disparity
10. The space between discharge electrodes, over which a spark can jump (also spark gap; elec eng)
11. A break in the magnetic circuit of the recording or erasing head of a tape recorder, which allows the signal to interact with the oxide film (electronics)

1. To make a gap in
2. To notch (rare, dialect)

gappˈer noun (informal)

A person taking a gap year

gappˈy adjective

Full of gaps

gap analysis noun (marketing)

A method of discovering gaps in the market for possible new products, by checking off consumer wants against qualities of products available and noting where these do not coincide

gap funding noun

Money provided by the government to private concerns in order to ensure that the development of unused and unattractive sites is profitable

gap junction noun (biology)

A junction which allows direct communication between cells by molecules which can diffuse through pores in the junction

gap site noun

A piece of land in a built-up area lying empty because the building which once stood on it has been demolished

gapˈ-toothed adjective

With teeth set wide apart

gap year noun

A year spent by a student between school and university doing non-academic activities such as voluntary work abroad

bridge, close, fill or stop the gap

To supply what is lacking

spark /spärk/

1. A glowing or glittering particle
2. Anything of this appearance or character, eg easily extinguished, ready to cause explosion or burning hot
3. A flash
4. An electric discharge across a gap
5. Anything active or vivid
6. A bright sprightly person
7. A small diamond (informal)
8. An electrician (informal; see also sparks below)
9. A lover, a beau (archaic)

1. To emit sparks
2. To produce a spark
3. To sparkle
4. To play the gallant or lover (archaic)

To cause to begin, kindle or animate (often with off)

sparkˈish adjective

Jaunty, showy

sparkˈishly adverb

sparkˈless adjective

sparkˈlessly adverb

sparkˈlet noun

A small spark

sparks singular noun

1. A ship's wireless operator (naut inf)
2. (also spark or esp Aust sparkˈie) an electrician (informal)

sparkˈy adjective

1. Producing sparks
2. Jaunty
3. Sprightly

spark chamber noun

A radiation detector, consisting of a chamber containing inert gas and electrically charged metal plates, in which tracks of particles can be detected and studied by photographing the spark caused by their ionization of the gas

spark coil noun

1. An induction coil
2. A connection of high resistance used to prevent sparking in electrical apparatus

spark gap noun

1. The space between electrodes across which electric sparks pass
2. Apparatus with such a space

spark plug or sparkˈing-plug noun

In an internal-combustion engine, a plug carrying wires between which an electric spark passes to fire the explosive mixture of gases

bright spark (often ironic)

A person who has many good ideas

make sparks fly

To cause or arouse sudden anger

spark off see spark (vt) above.

spark out (slang)

1. To fall asleep
2. To pass out
3. To die (spark-out or sparked-out adjective)

• smokeable
• smoke alarm
• smoke alarms
• smoke and mirrors
• smoke ball
• smoke balls
• smoke-black
• smoke-blacks
• smokeboard
• smokeboards
• smoke bomb
• smoke bombs
• smokebox
• smokeboxes
• smoke bush
• smoke bushes
• smoke-consumer
• smoke-consumers
• smoke control area
• smoke control areas
• smoked
• smoke detector
• smoke detectors
• smoke-dried
• smoke-dries