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spark

Pronunciation: /ˈspɑːk/

The English word “spark” has 16 meanings listed here.

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. 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. An electrician.
  8. A small collection of cells which briefly appears at the edge of a larger pattern before dying off.
  9. A diamond, especially one set in a piece of jewellery.
  10. A gallant; a foppish young man.
  11. A beau, lover.

verb

  1. To trigger, kindle into activity (an argument, etc).
  2. To light; to kindle.
  3. To give off a spark or sparks.
  4. To shoot; to fire
  5. To woo, court; to act the gallant or beau.

Etymology

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…

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.