Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter S - Page 123
Spark (n.) A brisk, showy, gay man.
The finest sparks and cleanest beaux. -- Prior.
Spark (n.) A lover; a gallant; a beau.
Spark (v. i.) To sparkle. [Obs.] -- Spenser.
Spark (v. i.) (Elec.) To produce, or give off, sparks, as a dynamo at the commutator when revolving under the collecting brushes.
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.
Compare: Electric current
Electric 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).
Spark (n.) A momentary flash of light [syn: flicker, spark, glint].
Spark (n.) Merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance; "he had a sparkle in his eye"; "there's a perpetual twinkle in his eyes" [syn: sparkle, twinkle, spark, light].
Spark (n.) Electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field [syn: discharge, spark, arc, electric arc, electric discharge].
Spark (n.) A small but noticeable trace of some quality that might become stronger; "a spark of interest"; "a spark of decency".
Spark (n.) Scottish writer of satirical novels (born in 1918) [syn: Spark, Muriel Spark, Dame Muriel Spark, Muriel Sarah Spark].
Spark (n.) A small fragment of a burning substance thrown out by burning material or by friction.
Spark (v.) Put in motion or move to act; "trigger a reaction"; "actuate the circuits" [syn: trip, actuate, trigger, activate, set off, spark off, spark, trigger off, touch off].
Spark (v.) Emit or produce sparks; "A high tension wire, brought down by a storm, can continue to spark" [syn: spark, sparkle].
SPARK, () An annotated subset of Ada supported by tools supplied by Praxis Critical Systems (originally by PVL). (2001-07-12)
Sparker (n.) A spark arrester.
Sparker (n.) A wire net to stop sparks from an open fireplace or smokestack [syn: spark arrester, sparker].
Sparkful (a.) Lively; brisk; gay. [Obs.] "Our sparkful youth." -- Camden.
Sparkish (a.) Like a spark; airy; gay. -- W. Walsh.
Sparkish (a.) Showy; well-dresed; fine. -- L'Estrange.
Sparkle (n.) A little spark; a scintillation.
As fire is wont to quicken and go From a sparkle sprungen amiss, Till a city brent up is. -- Chaucer.
The shock was sufficiently strong to strike out some sparkles of his fiery temper. -- Prescott.
Sparkle (n.) Brilliancy; luster; as, the sparkle of a diamond.
Sparkled (imp. & p. p.) of Sparkle.
Sparkling (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Sparkle.
Sparkle (v. i.) To emit sparks; to throw off ignited or incandescent particles; to shine as if throwing off sparks; to emit flashes of light; to scintillate; to twinkle; as, the blazing wood sparkles; the stars sparkle.
A mantelet upon his shoulder hanging Bretful of rubies red, as fire sparkling. -- Chaucer.
Sparkle (v. i.) To manifest itself by, or as if by, emitting sparks; to glisten; to flash.
I see bright honor sparkle through your eyes. -- Milton.
Sparkle (v. i.) To emit little bubbles, as certain kinds of liquors; to effervesce; as, sparkling wine.
Syn: To shine; glisten; scintillate; radiate; coruscate; glitter; twinkle.
Sparkle (v. i.) To emit in the form or likeness of sparks. "Did sparkle forth great light." -- Spenser.
Sparkle (v. t.) To disperse. [Obs.]
The Landgrave hath sparkled his army without any further enterprise. -- State Papers.
Sparkle (v. t.) To scatter on or over. [Obs.] -- Purchas.
Sparkle (n.) Merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance; "he had a sparkle in his eye"; "there's a perpetual twinkle in his eyes" [syn: sparkle, twinkle, spark, light].
Sparkle (n.) The occurrence of a small flash or spark [syn: glitter, sparkle, coruscation].
Sparkle (n.) The quality of shining with a bright reflected light [syn: glitter, glister, glisten, scintillation, sparkle]
Sparkle (v.) Reflect brightly; "Unquarried marble sparkled on the hillside" [syn: sparkle, scintillate, coruscate].
Sparkle (v.) Be lively or brilliant or exhibit virtuosity; "The musical performance sparkled"; "A scintillating conversation"; "his playing coruscated throughout the concert hall" [syn: sparkle, scintillate, coruscate].
Sparkle (v.) Emit or produce sparks; "A high tension wire, brought down by a storm, can continue to spark" [syn: spark, sparkle].
Sparkle (v.) Become bubbly or frothy or foaming; "The boiling soup was frothing"; "The river was foaming"; "Sparkling water" [syn: foam, froth, fizz, effervesce, sparkle, form bubbles].
Sparkler (n.) One who scatters; esp., one who scatters money; an improvident person. [Obs.]
Sparkler (n.) One who, or that which, sparkles.
Sparkler (n.) (Zool.) A tiger beetle.
Sparkler (n.) Diamonds; "look at the ice on that dame!" [syn: ice, sparkler].
Sparkler (n.) A firework that burns slowly and throws out a shower of sparks.
Sparklet (n.) A small spark. [Obs.]
Sparkliness (n.) Vivacity. [Obs.] -- Aubrey.
Sparkling (a.) Emitting sparks; glittering; flashing; brilliant; lively; as, sparkling wine; sparkling eyes. -- Spar"kling*ly, adv. -- Spar"kling*ness, n.
Syn: Brilliant; shining. See Shining.
Sparkling (a.) Shining with brilliant points of light like stars; "sparkling snow"; "sparkling eyes."
Sparkling (a.) Used of wines and waters; charged naturally or artificially with carbon dioxide; "sparkling wines"; "sparkling water" [syn: sparkling, effervescent] [ant: noneffervescent, still].
Sparkling (n.) A rapid change in brightness; a brief spark or flash [syn: twinkle, scintillation, sparkling].
Sparling (n.) (Zool.) The European smelt ({Osmerus eperlanus).
Sparling (n.) (Zool.)A young salmon.
Sparling (n.) (Zool.) A tern. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
Sparling (n.) Common smelt of Europe [syn: European smelt, sparling].
Sparling (n.) The common smelt of Europe [syn: sparling, European smelt, Osmerus eperlanus].
Sparlyre (n.) The calf of the leg. [Obs.] -- Wyclif (Deut. xxviii. 35).
Sparoid (a.) (Zool.) Of or pertaining to the Sparidae, a family of spinous-finned fishes which includes the scup, sheepshead, and sea bream.
Sparoid (n.) One of the Sparidae.
Sparpiece (n.) (Arch.) The collar beam of a roof; the spanpiece. -- Gwilt.
Sparpoil (v. t.) To scatter; to spread; to disperse. [Obs.]
Sparrow (n.) (Zool.) 麻雀 [C] One of many species of small singing birds of the family Fringilligae, having conical bills, and feeding chiefly on seeds. Many sparrows are called also finches, and buntings. The common sparrow, or house sparrow, of Europe ({Passer domesticus) is noted for its familiarity, its voracity, its attachment to its young, and its fecundity. See House sparrow, under House.
Note: The following American species are well known; the chipping sparrow, or chippy, the sage sparrow, the savanna sparrow, the song sparrow, the tree sparrow, and the white-throated sparrow (see Peabody bird). See these terms under Sage, Savanna, etc.
Sparrow (n.) (Zool.) Any one of several small singing birds somewhat resembling the true sparrows in form or habits, as the European hedge sparrow. See under Hedge.
He that doth the ravens feed, Yea, providently caters for the sparrow, Be comfort to my age! -- Shak.
Field sparrow, Fox sparrow, etc. See under Field, Fox, etc.
Sparrow bill, A small nail; a castiron shoe nail; a sparable.
Sparrow hawk. (Zool.) (a) A small European hawk ({Accipiter nisus) or any of the allied species.
Sparrow hawk. (Zool.) (b) A small American falcon ({Falco sparverius).
Sparrow hawk. (Zool.) (c) The Australian collared sparrow hawk ({Accipiter torquatus).
Note: The name is applied to other small hawks, as the European kestrel and the New Zealand quail hawk.
Sparrow owl (Zool.), A small owl ({Glaucidium passerinum"> Sparrow owl (Zool.), a small owl ({Glaucidium passerinum) found both in the Old World and the New. The name is also applied to other species of small owls.
Sparrow spear (Zool.), The female of the reed bunting. [Prov. Eng.]
Sparrow (n.) Any of several small dull-colored singing birds feeding on seeds or insects [syn: sparrow, true sparrow].
Sparrow (n.) Small brownish European songbird [syn: hedge sparrow, sparrow, dunnock, Prunella modularis].
Sparrow, () Mentioned among the offerings made by the very poor.
Two sparrows were sold for a farthing (Matt. 10:29), and five for two farthings (Luke 12:6). The Hebrew word thus rendered is _tsippor_, which properly denotes the whole family of small birds which feed on grain (Lev. 14:4; Ps. 84:3; 102:7). The Greek word of the New Testament is _strouthion_ (Matt. 10:29-31), which is thus correctly rendered.
Sparrowgrass (n.) Asparagus. [Colloq.] See the Note under Asparagus.
Sparrowwort (n.) An evergreen shrub of the genus Erica (E. passerina).
Sparry (a.) Resembling spar, or consisting of spar; abounding with spar; having a confused crystalline structure; spathose.
Sparse (a.) 稀疏的；稀少的 Thinly scattered; set or planted here and there; not being dense or close together; as, a sparse population. -- Carlyle.
Sparse (a.) (Bot.) Placed irregularly and distantly; scattered; -- applied to branches, leaves, peduncles, and the like.
Sparse (v. t.) To scatter; to disperse. [Obs.] -- Spenser.
Sparse (a.) Not dense; "a thin beard"; "trees were sparse" [syn: sparse, thin].
Sparsedly (adv.) Sparsely.
Sparsely (adv.) In a scattered or sparse manner.
Sparseness (n.) The quality or state of being sparse; as, sparseness of population.
Sparsim (adv.) Sparsely; scatteredly; here and there.
Spartan (a.) Of or pertaining to Sparta, especially to ancient Sparta; hence, hardy; undaunted; as, Spartan souls; Spartan bravey.
Spartan (n.) A native or inhabitant of Sparta; figuratively, a person of great courage and fortitude.
Spartan (a.) Of or relating to or characteristic of Sparta or its people.
Spartan (a.) Resolute in the face of pain or danger or adversity; "spartan courage".
Spartan (a.) Unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgment; "a parent severe to the pitch of hostility"- H.G.Wells; "a hefty six-footer with a rather severe mien"; "a strict disciplinarian"; "a Spartan upbringing" [syn: severe, spartan].
Spartan (a.) Practicing great self-denial; "Be systematically ascetic...do...something for no other reason than that you would rather not do it"- William James; "a desert nomad's austere life"; "a spartan diet"; "a spartan existence" [syn: ascetic, ascetical, austere, spartan].
Spartan (n.) A resident of Sparta.
Sparteine (n.) (Chem.) A narcotic alkaloid extracted from the tops of the common broom ({Cytisus scoparius, formerly Spartium scoparium), as a colorless oily liquid of aniline-like odor and very bitter taste.
Sparterie (n.) Articles made of the blades or fiber of the Lygeum Spartum and Stipa tenacissima (syn. Macrochloa tenacissima), kinds of grass used in Spain and other countries for making ropes, mats, baskets, nets, and mattresses. -- Loudon.
Sparth (n.) An Anglo-Saxon battle-ax, or halberd.
Sparve (n.) The hedge sparrow.
Spary (a.) Sparing; parsimonious.
Spasm (n.) (Med.) 痙攣，抽搐 [U] [C]；（動作、感情等的）一陣發作 [C] [（+of）] An involuntary and unnatural contraction of one or more muscles or muscular fibers.
Note: Spasm are usually either clonic or tonic. In clonic spasm, the muscles or muscular fibers contract and relax alternately in very quick succession. In tonic spasm, the contraction is steady and uniform, and continues for a comparatively long time, as in tetanus.
Spasm (n.) A sudden, violent, and temporary effort or emotion; as, a spasm of repentance.
Cynic spasm (Med.) See under Cynic.
Spasm of the chest. See Angina pectoris, under Angina.
Spasm (n.) A painful and involuntary muscular contraction [syn: spasm, cramp, muscle spasm].
Spasm (n.) (Pathology) sudden constriction of a hollow organ (as a blood vessel).
Spasmatical (a.) Spasmodic. [Obs.]
Spasmodic (n.) (Med.) A medicine for spasm.
Spasmodic (a.) (Med.) 抽筋的；發作的；不持續的 Of or pertaining to spasm; consisting in spasm; occuring in, or characterized by, spasms; as, a spasmodic asthma.
Spasmodic (a.) Soon relaxed or exhausted; convulsive; intermittent; as, spasmodic zeal or industry.
Spasmodic croup (Med.), An affection of childhood characterized by a stoppage of brathing developed suddenly and without fever, and produced by spasmodic contraction of the vocal cords. It is sometimes fatal. Called also laryngismus stridulus, and childcrowing.
Spasmodic stricture, A stricture caused by muscular spasm without structural change. See Organic stricture, under Organic.
Spasmodic (a.) Affected by involuntary jerky muscular contractions; resembling a spasm; "convulsive motions"; "his body made a spasmodic jerk"; "spastic movements" [syn: convulsive, spasmodic, spastic].
Spasmodic (a.) Occurring in spells and often abruptly; "fitful bursts of energy"; "spasmodic rifle fire" [syn: fitful, spasmodic].
Spasmodical (a.) Same as Spasmodic, a. -- Spas*mod"ic*al*ly, adv.
Spasmodically (adv.) 斷續性地；發作性地 With spasms; "the mouth was slightly open, and jerked violently and spasmodically at one corner" [syn: spasmodically, jerkily].
Spasmodically (adv.) In spurts and fits; "I began to write intermittently and spasmodically."
Spastic (a.) (Med.) Of or pertaining to spasm; spasmodic; especially, pertaining to tonic spasm; tetanic.
Spastic (a.) Relating to or characterized by spasm; "a spastic colon"; "spastic paralysis is a spastic form of cerebral palsy"
Spastic (a.) Suffering from spastic paralysis; "a spastic child".
Spastic (a.) Affected by involuntary jerky muscular contractions; resembling a spasm; "convulsive motions"; "his body made a spasmodic jerk"; "spastic movements" [syn: convulsive, spasmodic, spastic].
Spastic (n.) A person suffering from spastic paralysis.
Spastically (adv.) Spasmodically.
Spasticity (n.) A state of spasm.
Spasticity (n.) The tendency to, or capability of suffering, spasm.
Spasticity (n.) The quality of moving or acting in spasms.
Spat () imp. of Spit. [Obs. or R.]
Spat (n.) A young oyster or other bivalve mollusk, both before and after it first becomes adherent, or such young, collectively.
Spat (v. i. & t.) To emit spawn; to emit, as spawn.
Spat (n.) A light blow with something flat. [U.S. & Prov. Eng.]
Spat (n.) Hence, a petty combat, esp. a verbal one; a little quarrel, dispute, or dissension. [U. S.]
Spat (v. i.) To dispute. [R.] -- Smart.
Spatted (imp. & p. p.) of Spat.
Spatting (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Spat.
Spat (v. t.) To slap, as with the open hand; to clap together; as the hands. [Local, U.S.]
Little Isabel leaped up and down, spatting her hands. -- Judd.
Spat (n.) A legging; a gaiter. [Scot. & Dial. Eng.]
Spat (n.) A kind of short cloth or leather gaiter worn over the upper part of the shoe and fastened beneath the instep; -- chiefly in pl.
Spat (n.) A quarrel about petty points [syn: bicker, bickering, spat, tiff, squabble, pettifoggery, fuss].
Spat (n.) A cloth covering (a legging) that covers the instep and ankles [syn: spat, gaiter].
Spat (n.) A young oyster or other bivalve
Spat (v.) Come down like raindrops; "Bullets were spatting down on us."
Spat (v.) Become permanently attached; "mollusks or oysters spat."
Spat (v.) Strike with a sound like that of falling rain; "Bullets were spatting the leaves."
Spat (v.) Clap one's hands or shout after performances to indicate approval [syn: applaud, clap, spat, acclaim] [ant: boo, hiss].
Spat (v.) Engage in a brief and petty quarrel.
Spat (v.) Spawn; "oysters spat."
Spat (v.) Clap one's hands together; "The children were clapping to the music" [syn: clap, spat].
SPAT, () Speech Pronunciation Analysis Training (Uni Mainz), "S.P.A.T."
Spatangoid (a.) (Zool.) Of or pertaining to the Spatangoidea.
Spatangoid (n.) One of the Spatangoidea.
Spatangoidea (n. pl.) (Zool.) An order of irregular sea urchins, usually having a more or less heart-shaped shell with four or five petal-like ambulacra above. The mouth is edentulous and situated anteriorly, on the under side.
Spatangus (n.) (Zool.) A genus of heart-shaped sea urchins belonging to the Spatangoidea.
Spatchcock (n.) See Spitchcock.
Spatchcock (n.) Flesh of a chicken (or game bird) split down the back and grilled (usually immediately after being killed).
Spatchcock (v.) Prepare for eating if or as if a spatchcock; "spatchcock a guinea hen."
Spatchcock (v.) Interpolate or insert (words) into a sentence or story.
Spate (n.) A river flood; an overflow or inundation. -- Burns.
Gareth in a showerful spring Stared at the spate. -- Tennyson.
Spate (n.) (Often followed by `of') A large number or amount or extent; "a batch of letters"; "a deal of trouble"; "a lot of money"; "he made a mint on the stock market"; "see the rest of the winners in our huge passel of photos"; "it must have cost plenty"; "a slew of journalists"; "a wad of money" [syn: batch, deal, flock, good deal, great deal, hatful, heap, lot, mass, mess, mickle, mint, mountain, muckle, passel, peck, pile, plenty, pot, quite a little, raft, sight, slew, spate, stack, tidy sum, wad].
Spate (n.) A sudden forceful flow [syn: rush, spate, surge, upsurge].
Spate (n.) The occurrence of a water flow resulting from sudden rain or melting snow [syn: freshet, spate].
Spathae (n. pl. ) of Spatha.
Spatha (n.) [L.] (Bot.) A spathe.
Spathaceous (a.) (Bot.) Having a spathe; resembling a spathe; spathal.
Spathal (a.) (Bot.) Furnished with a spathe; as, spathal flowers. -- Howitt.
Spathe (n.) (Bot.) A special involucre formed of one leaf and inclosing a spadix, as in aroid plants and palms. See the Note under Bract, and Illust. of Spadix.
Note: The name is also given to the several-leaved involucre of the iris and other similar plants.
Spathe (n.) A conspicuous bract surrounding or subtending a spadix or other inflorescence.
Spathed (a.) (Bot.) Having a spathe or calyx like a sheath.
Spathic (a.) Like spar; foliated or lamellar; spathose.
Spathic iron (Min.), Siderite. See Siderite (a) .
Spathiform (a.) Resembling spar in form. "The ocherous, spathiform, and mineralized forms of uranite." -- Lavoisier (Trans.).
Spathose (a.) (Min.) See Spathic.
Spathose (a.) (Bot.) Having a spathe; resembling a spathe; spatheceous; spathal.
Spathous (a.) (Bot.) Spathose.
Spathulate (a.) See Spatulate.
Spatulate (a.) (Nat. Hist.) Shaped like spatula, or like a battledoor, being roundish, with a long, narrow, linear base. [Also written spathulate.]
Spatial (a.) Of or pertaining to space. "Spatial quantity and relations." -- L. H. Atwater.
Spatial (a.) Pertaining to or involving or having the nature of space; "the first dimension to concentrate on is the spatial one"; "spatial ability"; "spatial awareness"; "the spatial distribution of the population" [syn: spatial, spacial] [ant: nonspatial].
Spatially (adv.) As regards space.
Spatially (adv.) With regard to space; "spatially limited."
Spatiate (v. t.) To rove; to ramble. [Obs.] -- Bacon.
Spattered (imp. & p. p.) of Spatter.
Spattered (a.) Covered with bright patches (often used in combination); "waves dabbled with moonlight"; "a blood-spattered room"; "gardens splashed with color"; "kitchen walls splattered with grease" [syn: dabbled, spattered, splashed, splattered].
Spattering (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Spatter.
Spatter (v. t.) To sprinkle with a liquid or with any wet substance, as water, mud, or the like; to make wet of foul spots upon by sprinkling; as, to spatter a coat; to spatter the floor; to spatter boots with mud.
Upon any occasion he is to be spattered over with the blood of his people. -- Burke.
Spatter (v. t.) To distribute by sprinkling; to sprinkle around; as, to spatter blood. -- Pope.
Spatter (v. t.) Fig.: To injure by aspersion; to defame; to soil; also, to throw out in a defamatory manner.
Spattering (n.) The noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively; "he heard a spatter of gunfire" [syn: spatter, spattering, splatter, splattering, sputter, splutter, sputtering].
Spattering (n.) The act of splashing a (liquid) substance on a surface [syn: spatter, spattering, splash, splashing, splattering].
Spatter (v. i.) To throw something out of the mouth in a scattering manner; to sputter.
That mind must needs be irrecoverably depraved, which, . . . tasting but once of one just deed, spatters at it, and abhors the relish ever after. -- Milton.
Spatter (n.) The noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively; "he heard a spatter of gunfire" [syn: spatter, spattering, splatter, splattering, sputter, splutter, sputtering].
Spatter (n.) The act of splashing a (liquid) substance on a surface [syn: spatter, spattering, splash, splashing, splattering].
Spatter (v.) Dash a liquid upon or against; "The mother splashed the baby's face with water" [syn: spatter, splatter, plash, splash, splosh, swash].
Spatter (v.) Rain gently; "It has only sprinkled, but the roads are slick" [syn: sprinkle, spit, spatter, patter, pitter-patter].
Spatter (v.) Spot, splash, or soil; "The baby spattered the bib with food" [syn: spatter, bespatter].
Spatterdashed (a.) Wearing spatterdashes. [Colloq.] -- Thackeray.
Spatterdashes (n. pl.) Coverings for the legs, to protect them from water and mud; long gaiters.