spark

/spɑːk/ (bre, ipa) · [spˈɑrk] /spɑːrk/ (ame, ipa) · [spˈɑrk] /ˈspärk/ (ame, mw)

spark — 名詞

  • sparksingular
  • sparksplural

1. a very small glowing piece of burning material that flies off a fire or is produ

1.名詞C2
釋義

火花

燃燒或放電時出現的微小發光物

a very small glowing piece of burning material that flies off a fire or is produced when two hard surfaces are rubbed together, or a short bright flash of electricity that jumps between two conductors.

例句

A spark from the campfire flew onto Asher's sleeping bag and burned a small hole.

營火飛出的火花落在 Asher 的睡袋上，燒了一個小洞。

countable: a spark from [source] + verb of motion

The mechanic saw blue sparks jumping between the frayed wires under the car bonnet.

技師看到藍色火花在引擎蓋下磨損的電線之間跳動。

plural sparks + verb: jumping between [objects]

同義詞
  • fleck

    a very small piece of something, but not necessarily burning

  • glint

    a brief flash of light, but usually reflected rather than emitted

文法句型

a spark of [material]

sparks [verb]

用法筆記

Frequently used with verbs of motion such as 'fly', 'jump', and 'shoot'. In electrical contexts, plural form 'sparks' is typical.

常見錯誤

❌A spark of fire jumped from the fireplace.
✅A spark jumped from the fireplace.
💡'spark' already describes the burning piece; adding 'of fire' is redundant.

2. a small happening that triggers a much bigger, usually negative situation — for

2.名詞C2
釋義

導火線

引發更大衝突或混亂的小事件

a small happening that triggers a much bigger, usually negative situation — for instance, a brief quarrel that snowballs into a physical fight, or a local complaint that escalates into a region-wide dispute.

例句

The argument over a parking space was the spark that started a fight between the two neighbours.

停車位的爭執是點燃兩名鄰居之間打鬥的導火線。

the spark that + relative clause describing consequence

A small misunderstanding became the spark for a much larger conflict within the team.

一個小小的誤會成了團隊內部更大衝突的導火線。

the spark for [something]: prepositional pattern

同義詞
  • trigger

    more neutral in tone; can be used for positive or negative outcomes

  • catalyst

    formal; describes something that speeds up change without necessarily being the direct cause

  • flashpoint

    the moment or place where conflict becomes unavoidable

反義詞
  • prevention

    an action taken to stop a conflict before it begins

文法句型

the spark that [verb]

a spark for/of [something]

the spark that sets off [something]

用法筆記

Almost always appears with the definite article ('the spark'). Often followed by a relative clause ('the spark that…') or a prepositional phrase ('the spark for/of…'). The result is typically negative — violence, conflict, or unrest.

常見錯誤

❌His joke was a spark of laughter.
✅His joke was the spark that started a debate about humour.
💡'the spark' implies a chain of events leading to a notable outcome, not a simple immediate reaction.

3. a very small amount of a quality, feeling, or sign that shows something may deve

3.名詞
釋義

一絲；些微

某種特質或感覺的微小跡象

a very small amount of a quality, feeling, or sign that shows something may develop or be present — for example, a spark of hope, a spark of curiosity, or a spark of genius.

例句

Renata saw a spark of excitement in the children's eyes when she mentioned the trip to the aquarium.

Renata 提到要去水族館時，看到孩子們眼中閃過一絲興奮。

a spark of [emotion] + in [someone's] eyes

Even after months of treatment, Camille never lost the spark of hope in her voice.

即使治療了幾個月，Camille 的聲音裡依然帶著一絲希望。

同義詞
  • glimmer

    slightly weaker; suggests something barely visible or uncertain

  • trace

    more neutral; a very small amount of anything

  • hint

    suggests indirect evidence rather than a direct small amount

反義詞
  • absence

    complete lack of a quality or sign

文法句型

a spark of [quality/feeling]

用法筆記

Always used in the pattern 'a spark of + abstract noun' (hope, curiosity, excitement, interest, genius). Never used with concrete nouns — you cannot say 'a spark of bread' or 'a spark of water'. The abstract noun is usually positive or neutral in tone.

常見錯誤

❌There was a spark of anger in his voice.
✅There was a spark of excitement in his voice.
💡'spark' in this sense usually collocates with positive qualities (hope, interest, creativity); for anger, use 'a flash of anger'.

4. a casual British term for someone who works with electrical wiring and appliance

4.名詞
釋義

電工

安裝與維修電路的師傅（英式非正式用法）

a casual British term for someone who works with electrical wiring and appliances in buildings.

例句

James called a spark to fix the broken wiring in the kitchen ceiling.

James 叫了一名電工來修理廚房天花板上破損的電線。

informal British: 'call a spark' = call an electrician

Amani's uncle works as a spark for a large building company in Manchester.

Amani 的叔叔在曼徹斯特一家大型建築公司當電工。

同義詞
  • electrician

    the standard, neutral term used in all varieties of English

用法筆記

This sense is restricted to informal British English. It is not used in American English or in formal contexts. The standard term 'electrician' is preferred in writing and in most professional situations.

常見錯誤

❌I am studying to become a spark.
✅I am studying to become an electrician.
💡'spark' is too informal for a professional statement or a CV.

spark — 動詞