spark
To trigger, kindle into activityTo trigger, kindle into activity (an argument, etc).
» The spark plugs aren't the problem.
Проблема не в свечах зажигания. — odexed
CK · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRMeaning
5 senses(figuratively, transitive)To trigger, kindle into activity (an argument, etc).
(transitive)To light; to kindle.
(intransitive)To give off a spark or sparks.
emit or produce sparks
(intransitive)To shoot; to fire
(archaic, intransitive)To woo, court; to act the gallant or beau.
Examples
139 sentencesThe spark plugs aren't the problem.
ruПроблема не в свечах зажигания. — odexed
Why didn't you replace the spark plugs?
Your spark plugs need to be changed.
There was a spark between Tom and Mary.
You need to learn how to change spark plugs.
Translations
3 languagesOrigin
From Middle English sparke, sperke, from Old English spearca, from Proto-West Germanic *spFrom 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”)).
Probably Scandinavian, akin to Old Norse sparkr (“sprightly”).
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
sparks, sparking, sparked, sparkedPhrasal verbs
3 phrasal verbsSynonyms
24 synonymsWord family
7 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle
See also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.