spark

Meanings

Noun

• A small particle of glowing matter, either molten or on fire.
• A short or small burst of electrical discharge.
• A small, shining body, or transient light; a sparkle.
• 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.
• Any of various lycaenid butterflies of the Indomalayan genus Sinthusa (genus).
• (in plural sparks but treated as a singular) A ship's radio operator.
• An electrician.
• A gallant; a foppish young man.
• A beau, lover.

Verb

• To trigger, kindle into activity (an argument, etc).
• To light; to kindle.
• To give off a spark or sparks.
• To woo, court; to act the gallant or beau.

Related

Similar words

• ember, gnast, funk
• beginnings, germ, glimmer

Origin

• From Middle English sparke, sperke, from Old English spearca, from Proto-Germanic *sprakô (compare Dutch spark and sprank, Middle Low German sparke), from Proto-Indo-European *sperg- ("to strew, sprinkle") (compare Breton erc’h ("snow"), Latin spargō ("to scatter, spread"), sparsus, Lithuanian sprógti ("to germinate"), Ancient Greek σπαργάω ("to swell"), Avestan 𐬟𐬭𐬀𐬯𐬞𐬀𐬭𐬈𐬔𐬀, Sanskrit पर्जन्य ("rain, rain god")).
• Probably Scandinavian, akin to Old Norse sparkr ("sprightly").