• (GA) enPR: spärk, IPA: /spɑɹk/
• (RP) enPR: späk, IPA: /spɑːk/

spark (plural sparks)

1. A small particle of glowing matter, either molten or on fire.
2. A short or small burst of electrical discharge.
3. A small, shining body, or transient light; a sparkle.
4. (figuratively) 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.
   • c. 1591–1592, William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act V, scene vi]:

     if any spark of life be yet remaining

   • 1689 (indicated as 1690)​, [John Locke], An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Thomas Basset, […], OCLC 153628242 ↗:

     , Book IV, Chapter XVII

     But though we have, here and there, a little of this clear light, some sparks of bright knowledge

   • 2013, Phil McNulty, "", BBC Sport, 1 September 2013:

     Everton's Marouane Fellaini looks one certain arrival but Moyes, who also saw United held to a draw by Chelsea at Old Trafford on Monday, needs even more of a spark in a midfield that looked laboured by this team's standards.

5. Any of various lycaenid butterflies of the Indomalayan genus Sinthusa.
6. (in plural sparks but treated as a singular) A ship's radio operator.
7. (UK, slang) An electrician.

• (small particle of glowing matter) ember, gnast, funk
• (small amount of something) beginnings, germ, glimmer

• French: étincelle, flammèche
• German: Funke
• Italian: scintilla
• Portuguese: faísca, fagulha, chispa, faúlha
• Russian: и́скра
• Spanish: chispa, centella

• Portuguese: faísca
• Russian: и́скра
• Spanish: chispa, centella

• French: étincelle

• Russian: (non-slang) эле́ктрик

spark (sparks, present participle sparking; past and past participle sparked)

1. (transitive, figurative) To trigger, kindle into activity (an argument, etc).
2. (transitive) To light; to kindle.
   • , Alex Jenson, The Serotonin Grand Prix (page 12)

     Byron sparked the cigarette. He sucked it dramatically and thrust it into Marko's hand.

3. (intransitive) To give off a spark or sparks.
4. Appalachian To court.

   • On top of Old Smoky,
     All covered in snow,
     I lost my true lover
     By sparking too slow.

• Spanish: chispear, chisporrotear

spark (plural sparks)

1. A gallant; a foppish young man.

   • The finest sparks and cleanest beaux.

   • 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling. In Six Volumes, volume (please specify ), London: Printed by A[ndrew] Millar, […], OCLC 928184292 ↗:

     |||tr=|brackets=|subst=|lit=|nocat=1|footer=}}|}}

     Jones had no sooner quitted the room, than the petty-fogger, in a whispering tone, asked Mrs Whitefield, “If she knew who that fine spark was?”

2. A beau, lover.

spark (sparks, present participle sparking; past and past participle sparked)

1. (intransitive) To woo, court; to act the gallant or beau.

• make love, romance, solicit; see also Thesaurus:woo

1. Surname