noun
spark
SPAHK
noun
1
A small glowing particle thrown off by fire, friction, or an electrical discharge.
"A single spark from the campfire set the dry grass alight."
2
A small trace of a feeling or quality that could grow into something bigger.
"There was a spark of hope in her voice."
"The two of them had an obvious spark from their very first date."
verb
1
To trigger or set off, especially an argument, idea, or reaction.
"The comment sparked a heated debate online."
2
To give off small bursts of electrical discharge.
"The faulty wire sparked every time the switch was flipped."
How to Use Spark
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tiny flash of fire or electricity, or — figuratively — a small sign of something that could grow, like an idea or attraction.
Common pairings
spark an idea
spark controversy
spark of interest
Word Forms
sparked past tense, sparked past tense, sparks plural, sparks plural, sparks singular, sparks singular
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A single _____ from the campfire set the dry grass alight.
Etymology
From Old English spearca, from a Germanic root meaning "to scatter" or "to sprinkle," describing the way sparks fly outward.