spark

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A tiny burning or flashing piece of fire, often produced by something hot or electrical.

   A spark from the fire landed on the carpet.

2. 2
   verb

   To cause something to start or to suddenly become active.

   The new tax sparked angry protests across the country.

3. 3
   noun

   A small sign of a quality or feeling that could grow into something bigger.

   There was a spark of interest in her eyes.

4. 4
   verb

   To give off small flashes of fire or electricity.

   The damaged wire began to spark dangerously.

From Middle English sparke, sperke, from Old English spearca, from Proto-West Germanic *sparkō (compare Saterland Frisian Spoorke, West Frisian spark, Dutch spark, German Low German Sparke, German Sparke), perhaps from Proto-Germanic *sparkaz (“lively, energetic”), from Proto-Indo-European *sperg- (“to strew, sprinkle”) (compare Breton erc’h (“snow”), Latin spargō (“to scatter, spread”), sparsus (“scattered”), Lithuanian sprógti (“to germinate”), Ancient Greek σπαργάω (spargáō, “to swell”), Avestan 𐬟𐬭𐬀𐬯𐬞𐬀𐬭𐬈𐬔𐬀 (frasparega, “branch, twig”), Sanskrit पर्जन्य (parjanya, “rain, rain god”)).

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