Fire vs Spark - What's the difference?
fire | spark |
(uncountable) A (usually self-sustaining) chemical reaction involving the bonding of oxygen with carbon or other fuel, with the production of heat and the presence of flame or smouldering.
(countable) Something that has produced or is capable of producing this chemical reaction, such as a campfire.
* , chapter=8
, title= (countable) The often accidental occurrence of fire in a certain place.
(uncountable, alchemy) One of the four basic elements.
).
(countable, British) A heater or stove used in place of a real fire (such as an electric fire).
(countable) The elements necessary to start a fire.
(uncountable) The bullets or other projectiles fired from a gun.
Strength of passion, whether love or hate.
* Atterbury
Liveliness of imagination or fancy; intellectual and moral enthusiasm.
* (Alexander Pope)
Splendour; brilliancy; lustre; hence, a star.
* (William Shakespeare)
* (John Milton)
(countable) A button (on a joypad, joystick or similar device) usually used to make a video game character fire a weapon.
(lb) To set (something) on fire.
* Chapter 20:
*:"Then I slipped up again with a box of matches, fired' my heap of paper and rubbish, put the chairs and bedding thereby, led the gas to the affair, by means of an india-rubber tube, and waving a farewell to the room left it for the last time." ¶ "You '''fired''' the house!" exclaimed Kemp. ¶ "' Fired the house. It was the only way to cover my trail—and no doubt it was insured."
*1907 , (Jack London), (The Iron Heel)
*:It was long a question of debate, whether the burning of the South Side ghetto was accidental, or whether it was done by the Mercenaries; but it is definitely settled now that the ghetto was fired by the Mercenaries under orders from their chiefs.
(lb) To heat without setting on fire, as ceramic, metal objects, etc.
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*
*:So this was my future home, I thought! Certainly it made a brave picture. I had seen similar ones fired -in on many a Heidelberg stein. Backed by towering hills,a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city; the city of one's dreams.
(lb) To drive away by setting a fire.
*(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
*:Till my bad angel fire my good one out.
(lb) To terminate the employment contract of (an employee), especially for cause (such as misconduct or poor performance).
*1969 , (Vladimir Nabokov), , Penguin 2011, p.226:
*:The first, obvious choice was hysterical and fantastic Blanche – had there not been her timidity, her fear of being ‘fired ’.
(lb) To shoot (a device that launches a projectile or a pulse of stream of something).
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(lb) To shoot a gun, a cannon or a similar weapon.
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To shoot; to attempt to score a goal.
*{{quote-news, year=2010, date=December 29, author=Mark Vesty, work=BBC
, title= To cause an action potential in a cell.
:
(lb) To forcibly direct (something).
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To initiate an event (by means of an event handler).
:
To inflame; to irritate, as the passions.
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*(John Dryden) (1631-1700)
*:Love had fired my mind.
To animate; to give life or spirit to.
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To feed or serve the fire of.
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To light up as if by fire; to illuminate.
*(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
*:[The sun] fires the proud tops of the eastern pines.
(lb) To cauterize.
To catch fire; to be kindled.
To be irritated or inflamed with passion.
A small particle of glowing matter, either molten or on fire.
A short or small burst of electrical discharge.
A small, shining body, or transient light; a sparkle.
(figuratively) A small amount of something, such as an idea, that has the potential to become something greater, just as a spark can start a fire.
* Shakespeare
* John Locke
* 2013 , Phil McNulty, "[http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23830980]", BBC Sport , 1 September 2013:
(in plural'' sparks ''but treated as a singular ) A ship's radio operator.
(UK, slang) An electrician.
To trigger, kindle into activity (an argument, etc).
* {{quote-news
, year=2012
, date=May 5
, author=Phil McNulty
, title=Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool
, work=BBC Sport
To give off a spark or sparks.
A gallant, a foppish young man.
* Prior
A beau, lover.
In transitive terms the difference between fire and spark
is that fire is to forcibly direct (something) while spark is to trigger, kindle into activity (an argument, etc).In intransitive terms the difference between fire and spark
is that fire is to shoot a gun, a cannon or a similar weapon while spark is to give off a spark or sparks.fire
English
Noun
Mr. Pratt's Patients, passage=We toted in the wood and got the fire going nice and comfortable. Lord James still set in one of the chairs and Applegate had cabbaged the other and was hugging the stove.}}
- He had fire in his temper.
- And bless their critic with a poet's fire .
- Stars, hide your fires .
- As in a zodiac representing the heavenly fires .
Derived terms
* all-fire * add fuel to the fire * back fire * balefire * ball of fire * baptism of fire * bonfire * brush-fire * brush fire * bushfire * campfire * catch fire * ceasefire * covering fire * electric fire * fiery * fight fire with fire * fire alarm * fire and brimstone * fire away * firearm * fireball * fire bay * fire beater * fireblast * firebolt * firebomb * firebrand * firebreak * fire brigade * firebug * fireclay * fire company * firecracker * fire department * firedog * fire drill * fire eater * fire engine * fire escape * fire exit * fire extinguisher * fire-fight * firefight * firefighter * fire flapper * firefly * fireguard * fire hose * firehouse * fire hydrant * fire in the belly * firelighter * fireman * fireplace * fireplug * fireproof * fire resistant * fire retardant * fireshine * fire ship * fire station * fireside * fire sign * fire-starter * fire step * firestop * fire swab * fire swatter * fire teaser * fire trench * fire truck * fire up * firewire * firewoman * firewood * firework * forest fire * friendly fire * gas fire * grassfire * grass fire * Greek fire * hang fire * heap coals on fire * hold your fire * hold someone's feet to the fire * irons in the fire * light someone's fire * no smoke without fire * on fire * open fire * ordeal of fire * play with fire * Promethean fire * pull out of the fire * rapid fire * real fire * St Anthony's fire * St Elmo's fire * trial by fireVerb
(fir)Wigan 2-2 Arsenal, passage=Andrey Arshavin equalised with a superb volley into the corner before Nicklas Bendtner coolly fired Arsenal in front.}}
Synonyms
* (set on fire) See set on fire * (sense) let off, loose (archery), shoot, * (terminate the employment of) dismiss, be given one's cards, be given the boot]], be given the elbow, [[heave-ho, be given the old heave-ho, let go, make redundant, sack, throw out * (sense) open fire, shoot * See alsoAntonyms
* (to terminate the employment) hireDerived terms
* fire away * fire off * fire up * firing * overfired * ! * underfired * unfirable * you're firedStatistics
*External links
* (wikipedia "fire")spark
English
(wikipedia spark)Etymology 1
From Middle English sparke, sperke, from Old English spearca, from (etyl) ).Noun
(en noun)- if any spark of life be yet remaining
- We have here and there a little clear light, some sparks of bright knowledge .
- Everton's Marouane Fellaini looks one certain arrival but Moyes, who also saw United held to a draw by Chelsea at Old Trafford on Monday, needs even more of a spark in a midfield that looked laboured by this team's standards.
Synonyms
* gnast * beginnings, germ, glimmerDerived terms
* sparkle * bright spark * spark arrester * spark coil * spark gap * spark knock * spark of life * spark plug * spark transmitter * sparks flyVerb
(en verb)citation, page= , passage=The introduction of substitute Andy Carroll sparked Liverpool into life and he pulled a goal back just after the hour - and thought he had equalised as Kenny Dalglish's side laid siege to Chelsea's goal in the closing stages.}}
Derived terms
* spark off * sparkleEtymology 2
probably Scandinavian, akin to (etyl) sparkr 'sprightly'Noun
(en noun)- The finest sparks and cleanest beaux.
