Sparks

[spahrks] /spɑrks/
noun
1.
Jared
[jair-id] /ˈdʒɛər ɪd/ (Show IPA), 1789–1866, U.S. historian and editor.
2.
a city in W Nevada, E of Reno.

spark1

[spahrk] /spɑrk/
noun
1.
an ignited or fiery particle such as is thrown off by burning wood or produced by one hard body striking against another.
2.
Also called sparkover. Electricity.
  1. the light produced by a sudden discontinuous discharge of electricity through air or another dielectric.
  2. the discharge itself.
  3. any electric arc of relatively small energy content.
  4. the electric discharge produced by a spark plug in an internal-combustion engine.
3.
anything that activates or stimulates; inspiration or catalyst.
4.
a small amount or trace of something.
5.
a trace of life or vitality.
6.
sparks, (used with a singular verb) Slang. a radio operator on a ship or aircraft.
7.
(usually initial capital letter) a member of Camp Fire, Inc., who is five years of age.
verb (used without object)
8.
to emit or produce sparks.
9.
to issue as or like sparks.
10.
to send forth gleams or flashes.
11.
(of the ignition of an internal-combustion engine) to function correctly in producing sparks.
verb (used with object)
12.
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
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
Related forms
sparkless, adjective
sparklessly, adverb
sparklike, adjective
Synonyms
4. jot, bit, flicker.

spark2

[spahrk] /spɑrk/
noun
1.
a gay, elegant, or foppish young man.
2.
a beau, lover, or suitor.
3.
a woman of outstanding beauty, charm, or wit.
verb (used with object)
4.
Informal: Older Use. to woo; court.
verb (used without object)
5.
Informal: Older Use. to engage in courtship; woo.
Origin
1565-75; figurative use of spark1, or < Old Norse sparkr quick, lively
Related forms
sparkish, adjective
sparkishly, adverb
sparkishness, noun
sparklike, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for Sparks

sparks

/spɑːks/
noun (functioning as sing) (informal)
1.
an electrician
2.
a radio officer, esp on a ship

spark1

/spɑːk/
noun
1.
a fiery particle thrown out or left by burning material or caused by the friction of two hard surfaces
2.
  1. a momentary flash of light accompanied by a sharp crackling noise, produced by a sudden electrical discharge through the air or some other insulating medium between two points
  2. the electrical discharge itself
  3. (as modifier): a spark gap
3.
anything that serves to animate, kindle, or excite
4.
a trace or hint: she doesn't show a spark of interest
5.
vivacity, enthusiasm, or humour
6.
a small piece of diamond, as used in the cutting of glass
verb
7.
(intransitive) to give off sparks
8.
(intransitive) (of the sparking plug or ignition system of an internal-combustion engine) to produce a spark
9.
(transitive) often foll by off. to kindle, excite, or animate
See also spark off, sparks
Word Origin
Old English spearca; related to Middle Low German sparke, Middle Dutch spranke, Lettish spirgsti cinders, Latin spargere to strew

spark2

/spɑːk/
noun (rare)
1.
a fashionable or gallant young man
2.
(Brit) generally (ironic) bright spark, a person who appears clever or witty: some bright spark left the papers next to the open window
verb
3.
(rare) to woo (a person)
Derived Forms
sparkish, adjective
Word Origin
C16 (in the sense: beautiful or witty woman): perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse sparkr vivacious

Spark

/spɑːk/
noun
1.
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)
Word Origin and History for Sparks

spark

n.

Old English spearca, from Proto-Germanic *spark- (cf. Middle Low German sparke, Middle Dutch spranke, not found in other Germanic languages). Electrical sense dates from 1748. Slang sense of "a gallant, a beau, a lover" (c.1600) is perhaps a figurative use, but also perhaps from cognate Old Norse sparkr "lively." Spark plug first recorded 1903 (sparking plug is from 1902); figurative sense of "one who initiates or is a driving force in some activity" is from 1941.

v.

c.1300, from spark (n.). Slang meaning "stimulate, to trigger" first attested 1912. Related: Sparked; sparking.

Slang definitions & phrases for Sparks

spark

verb

To initiate and stimulate; trigger: Willy Mays sparked an eighth inning Giant drive by stealing second (1912+)


Sparks in Technology

language
Fortran superset, used in Fundamentals of Data Structures, E. Horowitz & S. Sahni, Computer Science Press 1976.
(2007-03-21)

Idioms and Phrases with Sparks

spark

see: make the sparks fly
Encyclopedia Article for Sparks

city, Washoe county, in northwestern Nevada, U.S., on the Truckee River. Adjacent to Reno and part of the Reno-Sparks distribution centre, it is mainly residential. Originally named Harriman for the railroad company's president, Sparks was founded in 1904 as a switching yard and repair centre for the Southern Pacific Railroad. It was almost immediately renamed Sparks in honour of Nevada Governor John T. Sparks, whose ranch was nearby and who unsuccessfully opposed legislation to regulate the railroad's tariffs. The town grew slowly until the early 1950s, when a postwar building boom saw its conversion into a suburb of nearby Reno. At the turn of the 21st century, Sparks was Nevada's fourth largest city. Inc. 1905. Pop. (1970) 24,187; (1990) 53,367; (2000) 66,346.

Learn more about Sparks with a free trial on Britannica.com