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

1. \Spark\, v. i. (Elec.)
   To produce, or give off, sparks, as a dynamo at the
   commutator when revolving under the collecting brushes.
   
   

2. \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.
   
            Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
                                                  --Job v. 7.
   
   2. A small, shining body, or transient light; a sparkle.
   
   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.
   
            We have here and there a little clear light, some
            sparks of bright knowledge.           --Locke.
   
            Bright gem instinct with music, vocal spark.
                                                  --Wordsworth.
   
   {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.]
   
   

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

4. \Spark\, v. i.
   To sparkle. [Obs.] --Spenser.
   
   

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

An annotated subset of ada supported by tools supplied by praxis critical systems (originally by PVL).

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