# spark

> English word · Noun · IPA /spɑɹk/ · frequency rank #7,290

## Definitions
1. A small particle of glowing matter, either molten or on fire, resulting from an electrical surge or excessive heat created by friction.
2. A short or small burst of electrical discharge.
3. A small, shining body, or transient light; a sparkle.
4. A small amount of something, such as an idea or romantic affection, that has the potential to become something greater, just as a spark can start a fire.
5. Any of various lycaenid butterflies of the Indomalayan genus Sinthusa.
6. A ship's radio operator.
7. An electrician.
8. A small collection of cells which briefly appears at the edge of a larger pattern before dying off.
9. A diamond, especially one set in a piece of jewellery.

## Etymology
From 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”)).

## Easily confused with
- **SPR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spark-vs-spr)
- **star** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spark-vs-star)
- **spur** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spark-vs-spur)
- **spat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spark-vs-spat)
- **spas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spark-vs-spas)
- **start** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spark-vs-start)
- **speak** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spark-vs-speak)
- **stars** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spark-vs-stars)
- **sport** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spark-vs-sport)
- **stack** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spark-vs-stack)
- **stark** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spark-vs-stark)
- **Spurs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spark-vs-spurs)
- **stare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spark-vs-stare)
- **sperm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spark-vs-sperm)
- **spear** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spark-vs-spear)
- **stalk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spark-vs-stalk)
- **swarm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spark-vs-swarm)
- **starr** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spark-vs-starr)
- **spawn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spark-vs-spawn)
- **spire** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spark-vs-spire)

## Common misspellings (8)
`psark`, `saprk`, `spakr`, `sparkk`, `sparrk`, `sppark`, `sprak`, `sspark`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/spark