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Spark vs Sprinkle - What's the difference?

spark | sprinkle |

As nouns the difference between spark and sprinkle

is that spark is a small particle of glowing matter, either molten or on fire or spark can be a gallant, a foppish young man while sprinkle is a light covering with a sprinkled substance.

As verbs the difference between spark and sprinkle

is that spark is to trigger, kindle into activity (an argument, etc) or spark can be to woo, court while sprinkle is (lb) to cause (a substance) to fall in fine drops (for a liquid substance) or small pieces (for a solid substance).

spark

English

(wikipedia spark)

Etymology 1

From Middle English sparke, sperke, from Old English spearca, from (etyl) ).

Noun

(en noun)
  • 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
    • if any spark of life be yet remaining
  • * John Locke
    • We have here and there a little clear light, some sparks of bright knowledge .
  • * 2013 , Phil McNulty, "[http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23830980]", BBC Sport , 1 September 2013:
    • 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.
  • (in plural'' sparks ''but treated as a singular ) A ship's radio operator.
  • (UK, slang) An electrician.
    • Synonyms
    * gnast * beginnings, germ, glimmer
    Derived terms
    * sparkle * bright spark * spark arrester * spark coil * spark gap * spark knock * spark of life * spark plug * spark transmitter * sparks fly

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • 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 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.}}
  • To give off a spark or sparks.
    • Derived terms
    * spark off * sparkle

    Etymology 2

    probably Scandinavian, akin to (etyl) sparkr 'sprightly'

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A gallant, a foppish young man.
  • * Prior
    • The finest sparks and cleanest beaux.
  • A beau, lover.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To woo, court.

    • Derived terms

    * sparkish * sparker

    References

    *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    sprinkle

    English

    Verb

    (sprinkl)
  • (lb) To cause (a substance) to fall in fine drops (for a liquid substance) or small pieces (for a solid substance).
  • :
  • *(Bible), (w) xiv. 16
  • *:And the priest shallsprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before the Lord.
  • *
  • *:At twilight in the summeron the floor.
  • (lb) To cover (an object) by sprinkling a substance on to it.
  • :
  • *2005 , Justus Roux, Who's Your Daddy? , page 66:
  • *:Most of the passengers watched from the enclosed promenade deck, but Sandra found her way to the higher, open promenade where she shivered and watched the city lights fade and the stars sprinkle themselves across a dark blue velvet sky.
  • (lb) To drip in fine drops, sometimes sporadically.
  • :
  • (lb) To baptize by the application of a few drops, or a small quantity, of water; hence, to cleanse; to purify.
  • *(Bible), (w) x. 22
  • *:having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience

    • Quotations

    * 1893 , Edward F. Bigelow (editor and publisher), The Observer: a Medium of Interchange of Observations for all Students and Lovers of Nature , volume IV, number 4, page 114: *: There is no more beautiful object in the still and shady aisles of the wood than a great patch of the deep green hairy cap moss studded and starred by these little roses that are often scattered over it as thickly as the stars sprinkle the sky. * April 26th, 1899', ''Memorial Day Oration'' of General P. McGlashan, printed in '''1902 in ''Addresses delivered before the Confederate Veterans Association of Savannah by that association: *: As I laid him back on the litter he threw out his arms and clasped me around my neck, drew me towards him and kissed me, saying: "Colonel, I love you." [...] Unnumbered instances like this might be recounted did the time permit it. They sprinkle the whole four years as the stars sprinkle the sky. * 2010 , Donald E. MacKay, Love Is Stronger Than Death , page 91: *: [...] she will remember his words and gaze at the stars. One dark night when the stars sprinkle the heavens, she would call out to the stars and ask the same questions her benefactor had asked; perhaps she will be favored with answers.

    Derived terms

    * sprinkler

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A light covering with a sprinkled substance.
    • He decorated the Christmas card with a sprinkle of glitter.
  • A light rain shower.

    • Synonyms

    * (light covering with a sprinkled substance) sprinkling

    Derived terms

    * sugar sprinkles