spark

1
[ spahrk ]
/ spɑrk /

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

to kindle, animate, or stimulate (interest, activity, spirit, etc.): These bright students have sparked her enthusiasm for teaching. The arrival of the piano player really sparked the party.

Origin of spark

1
before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English spearca; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German sparke; (v.) Middle English sparken; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German sparken

OTHER WORDS FROM spark

spark·less, adjective spark·less·ly, adverb spark·like, adjective

Definition for spark (2 of 3)

spark 2
[ spahrk ]
/ spɑrk /
Informal: Older Use.

noun

an elegant or foppish young man.
a beau, lover, or suitor.
a woman of outstanding beauty, charm, or wit.

verb (used with object)

to woo; court.

verb (used without object)

to engage in courtship; woo.

Origin of spark

2
1565–75; figurative use of spark1, or < Old Norse sparkr quick, lively

OTHER WORDS FROM spark

spark·ish, adjective spark·ish·ly, adverb spark·ish·ness, noun spark·like, adjective

Definition for spark (3 of 3)

Spark
[ spahrk ]
/ spɑrk /

noun

Muriel (Sarah) (Camberg),1918–2006, British novelist and writer, born in Scotland.

Example sentences from the Web for spark

British Dictionary definitions for spark (1 of 3)

spark 1
/ (spɑːk) /

noun

verb

See also spark off, sparks

Word Origin for spark

Old English spearca; related to Middle Low German sparke, Middle Dutch spranke, Lettish spirgsti cinders, Latin spargere to strew

British Dictionary definitions for spark (2 of 3)

spark 2
/ (spɑːk) /

noun rare

a fashionable or gallant young man
bright spark British usually ironic a person who appears clever or witty some bright spark left the papers next to the open window

verb

rare to woo (a person)

Derived forms of spark

sparkish, adjective

Word Origin for spark

C16 (in the sense: beautiful or witty woman): perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse sparkr vivacious

British Dictionary definitions for spark (3 of 3)

Spark
/ (spɑːk) /

noun

Dame Muriel (Sarah). 1918–2006, British novelist and writer; her novels include Memento Mori (1959), The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1961), The Takeover (1976), A Far Cry from Kensington (1988), Symposium (1990), and The Finishing School (2004)

Idioms and Phrases with spark

spark

see make the sparks fly.