Spark vs Cause - What's the difference?
spark | cause |
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.
The source of, or reason for, an event or action; that which produces or effects a result.
* , chapter=5
, title= A goal, aim or principle, especially one which transcends purely selfish ends.
* Shakespeare
* Burke
(obsolete) Sake; interest; advantage.
* Bible, 2 Corinthians vii. 12
(obsolete) Any subject of discussion or debate; a matter; an affair.
* Shakespeare
(legal) A suit or action in court; any legal process by which a party endeavors to obtain his claim, or what he regards as his right; case; ground of action.
To set off an event or action.
*
* {{quote-magazine, title=A better waterworks, date=2013-06-01, volume=407, issue=8838
, page=5 (Technology Quarterly), magazine=(The Economist)
To actively produce as a result, by means of force or authority.
* Bible, (w) vii.4
* , chapter=13
, title= To assign or show cause; to give a reason; to make excuse.
As nouns the difference between spark and cause
is that spark is a small particle of glowing matter, either molten or on fire while cause is the source of, or reason for, an event or action; that which produces or effects a result.As verbs the difference between spark and cause
is that spark is to trigger, kindle into activity (an argument, etc) while cause is to set off an event or action.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.
Derived terms
* sparkish * sparkerReferences
*Anagrams
* ----cause
English
Noun
(en noun)- Her wedding will be cause for celebration.
- They identified a burst pipe as the cause of the flooding.
The Mirror and the Lamp, passage=He was thinking; but the glory of the song, the swell from the great organ, the clustered lights, […], the height and vastness of this noble fane, its antiquity and its strength—all these things seemed to have their part as causes of the thrilling emotion that accompanied his thoughts.}}
- God befriend us, as our cause is just.
- The part they take against me is from zeal to the cause .
- I did it not for his cause .
- What counsel give you in this weighty cause ?
Synonyms
* (source or reason) reason, sourceDerived terms
* because * causal * causality * causative * cause celebre * efficient cause * final cause * for cause (law) * formal cause * material causeSee also
* effectVerb
(caus)- Serene, smiling, enigmatic, she faced him with no fear whatever showing in her dark eyes.She put back a truant curl from her forehead where it had sought egress to the world, and looked him full in the face now, drawing a deep breath which caused the round of her bosom to lift the lace at her throat.
citation, passage=An artificial kidney these days still means a refrigerator-sized dialysis machine. Such devices mimic
- I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days.
The Mirror and the Lamp, passage=And Vickers launched forth into a tirade very different from his platform utterances. He spoke with extreme contempt of the dense stupidity exhibited on all occasions by the working classes. He said that if you wanted to do anything for them, you must rule them, not pamper them. Soft heartedness caused more harm than good.}}
- (Spenser)