spark

Meaning

Noun

1. A small particle of glowing matter, either molten or on fire, resulting from an electrical surge or excessive heat created by friction.
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.
5. Any of various lycaenid butterflies of the Indomalayan genus Sinthusa.
6. A ship's radio operator.
7. (UK, slang) An electrician.
8. A small collection of cells which briefly appears at the edge of a larger pattern before dying off.
9. (in-plural, obsolete) A diamond, especially one set in a piece of jewellery.

Verb

1. (figuratively, transitive) To trigger, kindle into activity (an argument, etc).
2. (transitive) To light; to kindle.
3. (intransitive) To give off a spark or sparks.
4. (intransitive) To shoot; to fire

Verb

To woo, court; to act the gallant or beau.

Synonyms

sparkle

❇️

flash

light

ignite

twinkle

flame

flicker

glimmer

kindle

trigger

inflame

turn on

touch off

switch on

emit sparks

scintillate

scintilla

gleam

suitor

lover

❤️

electric spark

electric discharge

trip

trigger off

activate

actuate

electric arc

strike

arc

shine

spark off

glint

beam

dandy

discharge

glitter

set off

speck

wooer

crackle

flare

court

asterisk

*️⃣

firework

cinder

pilot light

fire

🔥

paramour

mobilize

excite

Translations

étincelle

chispa

scintilla

Funke

vonk

faísca

favilla

espurna

chispa

sprank

kıvılcım

guspira

scintillare

centelha

❇️

Pronounced as (IPA)

/spɑɹk/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: sparke

Inherited from Old English: spearca

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: Spoorke

Cognate with Western Frisian: spark

Cognate with Dutch: spark

Cognate with German: Sparke

Cognate with Breton: erc’h

Cognate with Latin: spargō

Cognate with Lithuanian: sprógti

Cognate with Ancient Greek: σπαργάω

Cognate with Avestan: 𐬟𐬭𐬀𐬯𐬞𐬀𐬭𐬈𐬔𐬀

Cognate with Sanskrit: पर्जन्य

Cognate with Old Norse: sparkr

In summary

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”)).