sparkle
/ˈspɑɹ.kəl/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.38 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To shine as if throwing off sparks; to emit flashes of light; to scintillate; to twinkle.
Example Sentences
- "As sparckles from the Anduile vse to fly, / When heauie hammers on the wedge are swaid"
- "The lamp was shaded, and the fire was dim, when suddenly the log, which had burnt through, gave way; a shower of sparkles rose from the hearth, and a bright blaze illuminated the room, falling full on Francesca's face, as she bent over the patient."
- "The shock was sufficiently strong to strike out some sparkles of his fiery temper."
- "the sparkle of a diamond"
- "the sparkle of his conversation over dinner"
- "The wood was sparkling in the bonfire."
Etymology
From Middle English sparkel, sparkle, sparcle, equivalent to spark + -le (diminutive suffix). In some modern uses deverbal from etymology 2 below.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈspɑɹ.kəl/
- British English: /ˈspɑː.kəl/
Usage
Inflected Forms
sparkles (plural)
sparkles (present, singular)
sparkling (participle, present)
sparkled (participle, past)
sparkled (past)
sparckle (alternative)
sparcle (alternative)
Derived Forms
Phrases
Frequently Paired Words
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