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spark¹

(spärk)

1. An incandescent particle, especially:

a. One thrown off from a burning substance.

b. One resulting from friction.

c. One remaining in an otherwise extinguished fire; an ember.

2. A glistening particle, as of metal.

a. A flash of light, especially a flash produced by electric discharge.

b. A short pulse or flow of electric current.

4. A trace or suggestion, as:

a. A quality or feeling with latent potential; a seed or germ: the spark of genius.

b. A vital, animating, or activating factor: the spark of revolution.

5. sparks (used with a sing. verb) Informal A radio operator aboard a ship.

6. Electricity

a. The luminous phenomenon resulting from a disruptive discharge through an insulating material.

b. The discharge itself.

v. sparked, spark·ing, sparks

v.intr.

1. To give off sparks.

2. To operate correctly. Used of the ignition system of an internal-combustion engine.

v.tr.

1. To set in motion; activate: The incident sparked a controversy.

2. To rouse to action; spur: A cheering crowd sparked the runner to triumph.

[Middle English sparke, from Old English spearca. V., from Middle English sparken, from Old English spearcian.]

sparker n.

spark²

(spärk) Archaic

1. An elegantly dressed, highly self-conscious young man.

2. A male suitor; a beau.

v. sparked, spark·ing, sparks

v.tr.

To court or woo.

v.intr.

To court a woman or women.

[Perhaps of Scandinavian origin or from SPARK¹.]

sparker n.

Spark

(spärk), Dame Muriel Sarah 1918-2006.

Scottish writer known for her satirical novels, including Memento Mori (1958) and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1961).

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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