(sparks, sparking, sparked)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
A spark is a tiny bright piece of burning material that flies up from something that is burning.
The fire gradually got bigger and bigger. Sparks flew off in all directions.
N-COUNT
2.
A spark is a flash of light caused by electricity. It often makes a loud sound.
He passed an electric spark through a mixture of gases.
N-COUNT
3.
If something sparks, sparks of fire or light come from it.
The wires were sparking above me...
I stared into the flames of the fire as it sparked to life.
VERB: V, V prep
4.
If a burning object or electricity sparks a fire, it causes a fire.
A dropped cigarette may have sparked the fire.
= start
VERB: V n
5.
A spark of a quality or feeling, especially a desirable one, is a small but noticeable amount of it.
His music lacked that vital spark of imagination...
N-COUNT: N of n
6.
If one thing sparks another, the first thing causes the second thing to start happening.
What was it that sparked your interest in motoring?...
...a row sparked by a comment about his sister.
= cause
VERB: V n, V-ed
•
Spark off means the same as
spark.
That incident sparked it off...
His book, Animal Liberation, sparked off a revolution in the way we think about animals.
PHRASAL VERB: V n P, V P n (not pron)
7.
8.
If sparks fly between people, they discuss something in an excited or angry way.
They are not afraid to tackle the issues or let the sparks fly when necessary.
PHRASE: V inflects