spark

CEFRB2

/ˈspɑːk/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A tiny flash of burning material or electricity.

  2. 02

    verb

    To cause something to begin or develop.

Examples

  • A small spark often kindles a large flame.

  • The proposal would spark a storm of protest around the country.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. A short or small burst of electrical discharge.

  2. A small, shining body, or transient light; a sparkle.

  3. A small particle of glowing matter, either molten or on fire, resulting from an electrical surge or excessive heat created by friction.

More examples

In context

  • You really ought to change your spark plugs.

  • , 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.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

A tiny blank from the fireplace can quickly start a house fire.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

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”)).