sparkle
verbEtymology From Middle English sparklen, sperclen, equivalent to spark + -le (frequentative verb). Cognate with West Frisian sparkelje (“to sparkle”), Dutch sparkelen (“to sparkle”).
7 senses
- 1To emit sparks; to throw off ignited or incandescent particles
- 2To shine as if throwing off sparks; to emit flashes of…
- 3To manifest itself by, or as if by, emitting sparks; to…
- 4To emit little bubbles, as certain kinds of liquors; to…
- 5To emit in the form or likeness of sparks.
- 6To disperse.
- 7To scatter on or over.
1
To emit sparks; to throw off ignited or incandescent particles
- The wood was sparkling in the bonfire.
2
Broadly To shine as if throwing off sparks; to emit flashes of light; to scintillate; to twinkle
- The stars sparkle in the sky.
- Here, in the transept and choir, where the service was being held, one was conscious every moment of an increasing brightness; colours glowing vividly beneath the circular chandeliers, and the rows of small lights on the choristers' desks flashed and sparkled in front of the boys' faces, deep linen collars, and red neckbands.1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter V, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
3
To manifest itself by, or as if by, emitting sparks; to glisten; to flash.
- I see bright honour sparkle through your eyes.1634, John Milton, “Arcades”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC:
4
To emit little bubbles, as certain kinds of liquors; to effervesce
- sparkling wine
- sparkling water
5
To emit in the form or likeness of sparks.
- That the bright glister of their beames cleare / Did sparckle forth great light, and glorious did appeare.1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 32:
6
Obsolete To disperse.
7
Obsolete To scatter on or over.
- Derived terms
- asparkle, outsparkle, sparkler, sparkle up, sparkling water
- Related terms
- ❇, ❈, ✨