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2 : a short bright flash of electricity between two points

3 : SPARKLE

4 : a particle capable of being kindled or developed : GERM

2spark verb 1 : to emit or produce sparks

2 : to stir to activity : INCITE

Synonyms

activate, actuate, crank, drive, incite, move, propel, run, set off, start, touch off, trigger, turn on—more at ACTIVATE

3spark verb : WOO, COURT

1sparkle verb spar·kled; spar·kling 1 a : to throw out sparks

b : to give off or reflect bright moving points of light : FLASH

2 : to perform brilliantly

3 : EFFERVESCE

— spar·kler noun

Synonyms

flame, flash, glance, gleam, glimmer, glisten, glitter, scintillate, shimmer, twinkle, wink—more at FLASH

2sparkle noun 1 : GLEAM

2 : ANIMATION

spark plug noun 1 : a device that produces a spark to ignite the fuel mixture in an engine cylinder

2 : one that begins something or drives something forward

spar·row noun : any of several small dull-colored singing birds

sparse adjective spars·er; spars·est : thinly scattered : SCANTY

— sparse·ly adverb

— sparse·ness noun

Synonyms

light, meager, poor, scant, scanty, scarce, skimpy, slender, slim, spare—more at MEAGER

spasm noun 1 : a sudden involuntary and abnormal muscular contraction

2 : a sudden, violent, and temporary effort, feeling, or outburst

Synonyms

agony, burst, eruption, explosion, fit, flare, flare-up, flash, flush, gale, gush, gust, outburst, paroxysm, storm—more at OUTBURST

spas·mod·ic adjective 1 : relating to or affected or characterized by spasm <~ movements>; also : resembling a spasm

2 : acting or proceeding fitfully : INTERMITTENT

— spas·mod·i·cal·ly adverb

Synonyms

casual, choppy, discontinuous, erratic, fitful, intermittent, irregular, occasional, sporadic, spotty, unsteady—more at FITFUL

spas·tic adjective : of, relating to, marked by, or affected with muscular spasm <~ paralysis>

— spastic noun

1spat past and past participle of SPIT

2spat noun, plural spat or spats : a young bivalve mollusk (as an oyster)

3spat noun : a gaiter covering instep and ankle

4spat noun : a brief petty quarrel : DISPUTE

5spat verb spat·ted; spat·ting : to quarrel briefly

Synonyms

argue, bicker, brawl, dispute, fall out, fight, hassle, quarrel, row, scrap, squabble, wrangle—more at ARGUE

spate noun : a great rise or overflowing of a stream; also : a sudden outburst

Synonyms

cataclysm, cataract, deluge, flood, inundation, overflow, torrent—more at FLOOD

spathe noun : a sheathing bract or pair of bracts enclosing an inflorescence (as of the calla lily) and esp. a spadix on the same axis

spa·tial adjective : of or relating to space or to the facility to perceive objects in space

— spa·tial·ly adverb

spat·ter verb 1 : to splash with drops of liquid

2 : to sprinkle around

— spatter noun

Synonyms

dash, plash, splash—more at SPLASH

spat·u·la noun : a flexible knifelike implement for scooping, spreading, or mixing soft substances

spav·in noun : a bony enlargement of the hock of a horse

— spav·ined adjective

1spawn verb [ORIGIN: ME, fr. OF espandre to spread out, expand, fr. L expandere, fr. ex- out + pandere to spread]

1 : to produce eggs or offspring esp. in large numbers

2 : to bring into existence : GENERATE

— spawn·er noun

Synonyms

create, engender, generate, induce, make, produce—more at GENERATE

2spawn noun 1 : the eggs of water animals (as fishes or oysters) that lay many small eggs

2 : offspring esp. when produced in great numbers

Synonyms

issue, offspring, posterity, progeny, seed—more at OFFSPRING

spay verb spayed; spay·ing : to remove the ovaries of (a female animal)

SPCA abbreviation Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

SPCC abbreviation Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

speak verb spoke ; spo·ken ; speak·ing 1 : to utter words

2 : to express orally

3 : to mention in speech or writing

4 : to address an audience

5 : to use or be able to use (a language) in talking