SPARK
Dictionary entry overview: What does Spark mean?
• SPARK (noun)
The noun SPARK has 6 senses:
1. a momentary flash of light
2. merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance
3. electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field
4. a small but noticeable trace of some quality that might become stronger
5. Scottish writer of satirical novels (born in 1918)
6. a small fragment of a burning substance thrown out by burning material or by friction
Familiarity information: SPARK used as a noun is common.
• SPARK (verb)
The verb SPARK has 2 senses:
1. put in motion or move to act
2. emit or produce sparks
Familiarity information: SPARK used as a verb is rare.
Dictionary entry details
• SPARK (noun)
Meaning:
A momentary flash of light
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Synonyms:
flicker; glint; spark
Hypernyms ("spark" is a kind of...):
flash (a sudden intense burst of radiant energy)
Meaning:
Merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Synonyms:
sparkle; spark; twinkle; light
Context examples:
he had a sparkle in his eye / there's a perpetual twinkle in his eyes
Hypernyms ("spark" is a kind of...):
verve; vitality (an energetic style)
aspect; expression; face; facial expression; look (the feelings expressed on a person's face)
Meaning:
Electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural phenomena
Synonyms:
electric discharge; electric arc; arc; spark; discharge
Hypernyms ("spark" is a kind of...):
electrical conduction (the passage of electricity through a conductor)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spark"):
brush discharge (discharge between electrodes creating visible streamers of ionized particles)
corona; corona discharge; corposant; electric glow; Saint Elmo's fire; Saint Elmo's light; Saint Ulmo's fire; Saint Ulmo's light; St. Elmo's fire (an electrical discharge accompanied by ionization of surrounding atmosphere)
flashover (an unintended electric discharge (as over or around an insulator))
Meaning:
A small but noticeable trace of some quality that might become stronger
Classified under:
Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure
Context examples:
a spark of interest / a spark of decency
Hypernyms ("spark" is a kind of...):
hint; suggestion; trace (a just detectable amount)
Meaning:
Scottish writer of satirical novels (born in 1918)
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Synonyms:
Dame Muriel Spark; Muriel Sarah Spark; Muriel Spark; Spark
Instance hypernyms:
author; writer (writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay))
Meaning:
A small fragment of a burning substance thrown out by burning material or by friction
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)
Hypernyms ("spark" is a kind of...):
fragment (a piece broken off or cut off of something else)
• SPARK (verb)
Meaning:
Put in motion or move to act
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Synonyms:
trigger off; trigger; touch off; spark off; spark; set off; actuate; activate; trip
Context examples:
trigger a reaction / actuate the circuits
Hypernyms (to "spark" is one way to...):
initiate; pioneer (take the lead or initiative in; participate in the development of)
Cause:
come about; fall out; go on; hap; happen; occur; pass; pass off; take place (come to pass)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Emit or produce sparks
Classified under:
Verbs of raining, snowing, thawing, thundering
Synonyms:
spark; sparkle
Context example:
A high tension wire, brought down by a storm, can continue to spark
Hypernyms (to "spark" is one way to...):
emit; give off; give out (give off, send forth, or discharge; as of light, heat, or radiation, vapor, etc.)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
