Search the Dictionary

To emit sparks, or fine igneous particles. As the electrical globe only scintillates when rubbed against its cushion. Sir W. Scott.

Hence, a very small quantity; a particle. I will not bate thee a scruple. Shak.

To obtund or blunt, as acrimonious substances, or sharp particles. [R.] Arbuthnot. To sheathe the sword, to make peace.

In general, a fragment; a piece; a particle. Shak.

A sort of pneumonia occuring in iron workers, produced by the inhalation of particles of iron.

Hail or snow, mingled with rain, usually falling, or driven by the wind, in fine particles.

Watery particles congealed into white or transparent crystals or flakes in the air, and falling to the earth, exhibiting a great variety of very beautiful and perfect forms.

Impenetrable; resisting or excluding any other material particle or atom from any given portion of space; -- applied to the supposed ultimate particles of matter.

posed to weakness or instability; the primary quality or affection of matter by which its particles exclude or resist all others; hardness; massiveness. That which hinders the approach of two bodies when they are moving one toward another, I call solidity. Locke.

by combustion, or disengaged from fuel in the process of combustion, which rises in fine particles, and adheres to the sides of the chimney or pipe conveying the smoke; strictly, the fine powder, consisting chiefly of carbon, which colors smoke, and which is the result of imperfect combustion. See Smoke.…

A small particle of fire or ignited substance which is emitted by a body in combustion. Man is born unto trouble, as hte sparks fly upward. Job v. 7.

To emit sparks; to throw off ignited or incandescent particles; to shine as if throwing off sparks; to emit flashes of light; to scintillate; to twinkle; as, the blazing wood sparkles; the stars sparkle. A mantelet upon his shoulder hanging Bretful of rubies red, as fire sparkling. Chaucer.

A very small thing; a particle; a mite; as, specks of dust; he has not a speck of money. Many bright specks bubble up along the blue Egean. Landor.

animals and plants, the essential element in fertilization; a microscopic animalcule-like particle, usually provided with one or more cilia by which it is capable of active motion. In animals, the familiar type is that of a small, more or less ovoid head, with a delicate threadlike cilium, or tail. Called also spermato…

vessel; to lose, or suffer to be scattered; -- applied to fluids and to substances whose particles are small and loose; as, to spill water from a pail; to spill quicksilver from a vessel; to spill powder from a paper; to spill sand or flour.

A small instrument containing a minute particle of a radium compound mounted in front of a fluorescent screen and viewed with magnifying lenses. The tiny flashes produced by the continual bombardment of the screen by the a rays are thus rendered visible. -- Spin*thar`i*scop"ic (#), a.

Water flying in small drops or particles, as by the force of wind, or the dashing of waves, or from a waterfall, and the like.

To scatter in small drops or particles, as water, seed, etc.

A small quantity falling in distinct drops or particles; as, a sprinkling of rain or snow.

Moist matter thrown out in small detached particles; also, confused and hasty speech.