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spar·kle (spärkəl)
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intr.v. spar·kled, spar·kling, spar·kles
1. To give off sparks.
2.
a. To give off or reflect flashes of light; glitter: "The night seemed very large and still, and the stars sparkled like frost in the black sky" (Laura Ingalls Wilder). "The diamonds sparkled in a sunset ray that came through the slats of the shutters" (Edith Wharton). See Synonyms at flash.
b. To be reflected in small flashes of light: "The light of the rising moon sparkled on the sea" (Arthur C. Clarke).
3. To be brilliant in performance.
4. To make or contain witty or intelligently lively remarks: Their conversation sparkled all evening.
5. To release gas bubbles; effervesce: Champagne sparkles.
n.
1. A small spark or gleaming particle.
2. A glittering quality.
3. Brilliant animation; vivacity.
4. Emission of gas bubbles; effervescence.
[Middle English sparklen, frequentative of sparken, to spark; see SPARK1.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

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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