Spark

8 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Spark \Spark\, n. [OE. sparke, AS. spearca; akin to D. spark,
     sperk; cf. Icel. spraka to crackle, Lith. sprag["e]ti, Gr. ?
     a bursting with a noise, Skr. sph?rj to crackle, to thunder.
     Cf. {Speak}.]
     1. A small particle of fire or ignited substance which is
        emitted by a body in combustion.


        [1913 Webster]
  
              Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
                                                    --Job v. 7.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A small, shining body, or transient light; a sparkle.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. That which, like a spark, may be kindled into a flame, or
        into action; a feeble germ; an elementary principle. "If
        any spark of life be yet remaining." --Shak. "Small
        intellectual spark." --Macaulay. "Vital spark of heavenly
        flame." --Pope.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              We have here and there a little clear light, some
              sparks of bright knowledge.           --Locke.
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              Bright gem instinct with music, vocal spark.
                                                    --Wordsworth.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Spark arrester}, a contrivance to prevent the escape of
        sparks while it allows the passage of gas, -- chiefly used
        in the smokestack of a wood-burning locomotive. Called
        also {spark consumer}. [U.S.]
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Spark \Spark\, n. [Icel. sparkr lively, sprightly.]
     1. A brisk, showy, gay man.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The finest sparks and cleanest beaux. --Prior.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A lover; a gallant; a beau.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Spark \Spark\, v. i.
     1. To sparkle. [Obs.] --Spenser.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Elec.) To produce, or give off, sparks, as a dynamo at
        the commutator when revolving under the collecting
        brushes.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Spark \Spark\, v. i.
     To play the spark, beau, or lover.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           A sure sign that his master was courting, or, as it is
           termed, sparking, within.                --W. Irwing.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  electric current \electric current\, electrical current
  \electrical current\,
     the movement of electrically charged particles, atoms, or
     ions, through solids, liquids, gases, or free space; the term
     is usually used of relatively smooth movements of electric
     charge through conductors, whether constant or variable.
     Sudden movements of charge are usually referred to by other
     terms, such as {spark} or {lightning} or {discharge}. In
     metallic conductors the electric current is usually due to
     movement of electrons through the metal. The current is
     measured as the rate of movement of charge per unit time, and
     is counted in units of amperes. As a formal definition, the
     direction of movement of electric current is considered as
     the same as the direction of movement of positive charge, or
     in a direction opposite to the movement of negative charge.
     Electric current may move constantly in a single direction,
     called {direct current} (abbreviated {DC}), or may move
     alternately in one direction and then the opposite direction,
     called {alternating current} (abbreviated {AC}).
     [PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  spark
       n 1: a momentary flash of light [syn: {flicker}, {glint}]
       2: brightness and animation of countenance; "he had a sparkle
          in his eye" [syn: {sparkle}, {light}]
       3: electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric
          field [syn: {discharge}, {arc}, {electric arc}, {electric
          discharge}]
       4: a small but noticeable trace of some quality that might
          become stronger; "a spark of interest"; "a spark of
          decency"
       5: Scottish writer of satirical novels (born in 1918) [syn: {Muriel
          Spark}, {Dame Muriel Spark}, {Muriel Sarah Spark}]
       6: a small fragment of a burning substance thrown out by
          burning material or by friction
       v 1: put in motion or move to act; "trigger a reaction"; "actuate
            the circuits" [syn: {trip}, {actuate}, {trigger}, {activate},
             {set off}, {spark off}, {trigger off}, {touch off}]
       2: emit or produce sparks; "A high tension wire, brought down
          by a storm, can continue to spark" [syn: {sparkle}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  217 Moby Thesaurus words for "spark":
     AC arc, Beau Brummel, Poulsen arc, abettor, activate, actuate,
     actuator, address, animate, animator, aperiodic discharge, arc,
     arc column, arc discharge, atom, bake, be in heat, beau, begin,
     blade, blaze, blink, blinking, blood, bloom, boil, boulevardier,
     bring about, broil, brush discharge, bud, burn, cajoler, cast,
     chase, choke, clotheshorse, coax, coaxer, combust, compel, cook,
     coruscate, coruscation, court, coxcomb, dandy, dash, discharge,
     disruptive discharge, dude, electric discharge, electric shock,
     electric spark, electrify, electrodeless discharge, embryo,
     encourager, energize, energizer, enkindle, esquire, excite,
     exquisite, fashion plate, fine gentleman, fire, firefly, firer,
     flame, flame up, flare, flare up, flicker, flush, follow, fop,
     force, foster, fribble, fry, gadfly, gallant, galvanic shock,
     galvanize, galvanizer, gasp, germ, gleam, glimmer, glimmering,
     glint, glisk, glisten, glister, glitter, glittering, glow,
     glow discharge, glowworm, hint, idea, ignite, impel, impeller,
     incandesce, inducer, initiate, inspire, inspirer, inspirit,
     intimation, iota, jack-a-dandy, jackanapes, kindle, lady-killer,
     lay siege to, lick, light the fuse, look, macaroni, make suit to,
     make up to, man-about-town, masher, motivate, move, move to action,
     mover, moving spirit, nucleus, oscillatory discharge, pant, parch,
     pay attention to, pay court to, persuader, pleader, precipitate,
     prime mover, promote, prompter, propel, provoke, puppy, pursue,
     radiate heat, roast, scald, scintilla, scintillate, scintillation,
     scorch, seethe, serenade, set in motion, set off, shade, shadow,
     shimmer, shimmer with heat, shimmering, shock, silent discharge,
     simmer, sip, smack, smattering, smell, smolder, smother, soupcon,
     spangle, spark gap, spark plug, sparker, sparkle, speck, sport,
     sprinkling, squire, start up, steam, stew, stifle, stimulate,
     stimulator, stroboscopic light, sue, suffocate, suggestion, sup,
     suspicion, swain, sweat, sweetheart, swell, swelter, taste,
     tempter, thought, tincture, tinge, tinsel, toast, touch, touch off,
     trace, trigger, twinkle, twinkling, vestige, wheedler, whit, woo,
     wooer
  
  

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  SPARK
       
           An annotated subset of {Ada} supported by tools
          supplied by {Praxis Critical Systems} (originally by PVL).
       
          {Home (http://www.sparkada.com)}.
       
          (2001-07-12)