Sparkle

//ˈspɑː.kəl// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A little spark; a scintillation. countable, uncountable

    "As sparckles from the Anduile vse to fly, / When heauie hammers on the wedge are swaid"

  2. 2
    the quality of shining with a bright reflected light wordnet
  3. 3
    Brilliance; luster. countable, uncountable

    "the sparkle of a diamond"

  4. 4
    merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance wordnet
  5. 5
    Liveliness; vivacity. countable, uncountable

    "the sparkle of his conversation over dinner"

Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    the occurrence of a small flash or spark wordnet
  2. 7
    The quality of being sparkling or fizzy; effervescence. countable, uncountable
Verb
  1. 1
    To emit sparks; to throw off ignited or incandescent particles intransitive

    "The wood was sparkling in the bonfire."

  2. 2
    be lively or brilliant or exhibit virtuosity wordnet
  3. 3
    To shine as if throwing off sparks; to emit flashes of light; to scintillate; to twinkle broadly

    "The stars sparkle in the sky."

  4. 4
    become bubbly or frothy or foaming wordnet
  5. 5
    To manifest itself by, or as if by, emitting sparks; to glisten; to flash. intransitive

    "I see bright honour sparkle through your eyes."

Show 6 more definitions
  1. 6
    reflect brightly wordnet
  2. 7
    To emit little bubbles, as certain kinds of liquors; to effervesce intransitive

    "sparkling wine"

  3. 8
    emit or produce sparks wordnet
  4. 9
    To emit in the form or likeness of sparks. transitive

    "That the bright glister of their beames cleare / Did sparckle forth great light, and glorious did appeare."

  5. 10
    To disperse. obsolete, transitive
  6. 11
    To scatter on or over. obsolete, transitive

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English sparkel, sparkle, sparcle, equivalent to spark + -le (diminutive suffix). In some modern uses deverbal from etymology 2 below.

Etymology 2

From Middle English sparklen, sperclen, equivalent to spark + -le (frequentative verb). Cognate with West Frisian sparkelje (“to sparkle”), Dutch sparkelen (“to sparkle”).

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