Spark Definition

spärk

sparked, sparking, sparks

noun

sparks

An incandescent particle, especially:

American Heritage

A glowing bit of matter, esp. one thrown off by a fire.

Webster's New World

A glistening particle, as of metal.

American Heritage

Any flash or sparkle of light like this.

Webster's New World

A tiny beginning or vestige, as of life, interest, excitement, etc.; particle or trace.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

verb

sparked, sparking, sparks

To serve as the activating or animating influence of or in; stir up; activate.

To spark interest.

Webster's New World

To make or throw off sparks.

Webster's New World

To come forth as or like sparks.

Webster's New World

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

American Heritage

To produce the sparks properly.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Other Word Forms of Spark

Singular:

spark

Plural:

Middle English sparke, sperke, from Old English spearca, from Proto-Germanic *sparkô, *sprakô (cf. Dutch spark and sprank, Middle Low German sparke), from Proto-Indo-European *sp(h)er(e)g- (“to strew, sprinkle") (compare Breton erc'h (“snow"), Latin spargere (“to scatter, spread"), sparsus (“scattered"), Lithuanian sprógti (“to germinate"), Ancient Greek [script?] (spargân, “to swell"), Persian پراکن (parākan, “scatter, spread"), Avestan [script?] (frasparega, “branch, twig"), Sanskrit [script?] (Parjanva, “rain, rain god")).

From Wiktionary
Middle English sparke from Old English spearca V., from Middle English sparken from Old English spearcian

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Perhaps of Scandinavian origin or from spark

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
probably Scandinavian, akin to Old Norse sparkr 'sprightly'

From Wiktionary