Twinkle vs Spark - What's the difference?

As verbs the difference between twinkle and spark

is that twinkle is to shine with a flickering light; to glimmer while spark is to trigger, kindle into activity (an argument, etc).

As nouns the difference between twinkle and spark

is that twinkle is a sparkle or glimmer of light while spark is a small particle of glowing matter, either molten or on fire.

twinkle

English

Verb

(en-verb)

(of a source of light) to shine with a flickering light; to glimmer

We could see the lights of the village twinkling in the distance.

* Sir Isaac Newton

These stars do not twinkle when viewed through telescopes that have large apertures.

* Sir Walter Scott

The western sky twinkled with stars.

(chiefly, of eyes) to be bright with delight

His shrewd little eyes twinkled roguishly.

to bat, blink or wink the eyes

* Mrs. Juliet M. Hueffer Soskice, "Reminiscences of an Artist's Granddaughter",

She smiled and gave a little nod and twinkled her eyes

* L'Estrange

The owl fell a moping and twinkling .

to flit to and fro

* Dorothy Gilman, "Mrs. Pollifax and the Golden Triangle"

A butterfly twinkled among the vines

Synonyms

* glimmer * scintillate * wink

Noun

(en noun)

a sparkle or glimmer of light

* Robert De Beaugrande, "Text, Discourse, and Process",

Soon the rocket was out of sight, and the flame was only seen as a tiny twinkle of light.

a sparkle of delight in the eyes.

He was a rotund, jolly man with a twinkle in his eye.

a flitting movement

* James Russell Lowell, "Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell",

I saw the twinkle of white feet,

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

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