(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ is a tiny bright piece of burning material that flies up from something that is burning.
The fire gradually got bigger and bigger. Sparks flew off in all directions.
N-COUNT
2.
A ~ is a flash of light caused by electricity. It often makes a loud sound.
He passed an electric ~ through a mixture of gases.
N-COUNT
3.
If something ~s, ~s of fire or light come from it.
The wires were ~ing above me...
I stared into the flames of the fire as it ~ed to life.
VERB: V, V prep
4.
If a burning object or electricity ~s a fire, it causes a fire.
A dropped cigarette may have ~ed the fire.
= start
VERB: V n
5.
A ~ of a quality or feeling, especially a desirable one, is a small but noticeable amount of it.
His music lacked that vital ~ of imagination...
N-COUNT: N of n
6.
If one thing ~s another, the first thing causes the second thing to start happening.
What was it that ~ed your interest in motoring?...
...a row ~ed by a comment about his sister.
= cause
VERB: V n, V-ed
•
Spark off means the same as ~ .
That incident ~ed it off...
His book, Animal Liberation, ~ed off a revolution in the way we think about animals.
PHRASAL VERB: V n P, V P n (not pron)
7.
see also bright ~
8.
If ~s fly between people, they discuss something in an excited or angry way.
They are not afraid to tackle the issues or let the ~s fly when necessary.
PHRASE: V inflects