n (1)火花(星)(small bit of glowing particle thrown off from sth burning or by striking together of two hard objects)[C]：a shower of～s 一阵火花;produce～s by rubbing stones together 击石而产生火花;S～s flew from the fire. 火上飞出火星。Burning wood throws off～s. 燃烧的木材迸出火星。the～that set off the war (fig) 引发战争的火星;

(2)电火花(flash of light produced by electricity passing across a gap)[C]：an electric～电火花;The faulty switch is sending out～s. 这个短路的开关发出火花。S～s flew from a short circuit in the toaster. 电火花从烤面包箱中的短路处迸发出来。〖同〗flash，sparkle，beam;

(3)一点儿，微量(very small amount;trace)[U，a～][N (of)]：without a～of cleverness/enthusiasm 没有丝毫的聪慧/热情;haven't a～of interest in the plan 对此计划没有一点儿兴趣;〖同〗bit，trace，atom;

vi (1)发出(产生)火花(give out or produce sparks)[I]：Fireflies were～ing in the gathering darkness. 萤火虫在浓浓夜色中发出点点亮光。The bonfire is～ing. 篝火在迸射火星。What made the electric wire～? 什么使那电线发出电火花?〖同〗flash，sparkle;

(2)激励(发)，鼓舞(encourage;rouse to action)[T+n+prep (to/into)]：～one's team to victory 鼓舞自己的队去夺取胜利;～strong criticism from the press 激起新闻界的强烈批评;～sb's interest in politics 激起某人对政治的兴趣;〖同〗stimulate，arouse，excite，provoke;

spark off (v adv) 1)使爆炸，引爆(vt)：The explosives were～d off by someone striking the iron heel of his boot on the stone floor. 某人靴子的铁后跟与石地面摩擦产生的火花引爆了炸药。2)为……的直接原因;导致(vt)：His rude words～d off a fight. 他粗鲁的言辞引发了争斗。

→′sparking-plug，′spark-plug n 火花塞;′sparkle v & n