spark plugn.
1. = sparking plug n. at sparking n.1 Compounds 2. Cf. plug n. 2j.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > discharge of electricity > [noun] > point of discharge > in internal-combustion engine > plug
plug1886
ignition plug1900
sparking plug1902
spark plug1903
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > engine > internal-combustion engine > [noun] > parts of > starters
fire syringe1822
starting handle1836
magneto1882
self-starter1884
plug1886
gas starter1898
ignition plug1900
sparking plug1902
spark plug1903
dual ignition1909
impulse coupling1916
impulse starter1916
kick-starter1916
mag1918
cut-in1921
cartridge starter1922
recoil starter1931
glow plug1947
ignition1961
1903 Motor 3 June 376/1 A small stiff bristle tooth brush..is very convenient for cleaning the porcelain of a spark plug.
1914 F. Strickland Petrol Motors (ed. 2) 55 The high-tension leads and spark plug.
1920 J. D. Morgan Electr. Spark Ignition iv. 43 A natural starting point for the study of spark plugs..is the voltage required to produce sparking.
1921 R. D. Paine Comrades Rolling Ocean xvi. 284 Smashed the porcelains in both spark plugs.
1931 J. A. Polson Internal Combustion Engines xii. 250 Deposits of carbon on spark plugs may cause failure by providing a path from the central electrode to the shell.
1973 V. Canning Flight of Grey Goose ix. 171 He can't use ours [sc. a boat]... I got the spark plug in me pocket.
2. figurative. One who or that which initiates or is the driving force behind any activity or undertaking. colloquial (chiefly U.S.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > [noun] > incitement or instigation > one who incites or instigates
prickera1382
stirrerc1384
enticerc1386
exciter1387
risera1398
solicitor1412
erterc1440
prompter1440
stirrer?1533
motionerc1535
author1546
onsetter1549
stinger1552
setter-on1560
incentor1570
incensora1575
mover1578
whetter1579
out-hounder1596
hounder1597
egger on1598
inciter1598
instigator1598
urger1598
motive1600
fomenter1607
inflamer1609
fetcher in?1611
provokera1616
putter-ona1616
monitor1616
spurrer1632
outputter1639
poddera1640
commoter1646
impulsor1653
shaker and mover1874
agent provocateur1888
impeller1889
sooler1935
spark plug1941
1941 Sun (Baltimore) 24 Aug. 15/2 Introducing Hal Sieling... He's sparkplug of infield.
1953 M. McCarthy Groves of Academe viii. 159 In an experimental college like our own..a teacher's excitement is the spark-plug behind the whole system.
1958 Economist 26 July 281/2 The real spark-plug of expansion—improved international liquidity—cannot be discussed in the Commonwealth context alone.
1977 Time 14 Mar. 53/3 Lillee is the Australian sparkplug.
Derivatives
ˈspark-plug v. U.S. colloquial (transitive) to inspire, encourage, or lead (some activity).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > motivate [verb (transitive)] > incite or instigate > bring about by incitement
stirc897
forthclepe?c1000
raisec1175
entice1297
rearc1325
excitea1340
arta1450
provocate?a1475
suscitate1528
to stir upc1530
provoke1535
store1552
concitea1555
upsteer1558
spirit1598
solicit1602
foment1606
fana1616
proritate1620
incite1627
ferment1660
spirita1680
brush1755
whip1805
to put (also set) (the) spurs to1819
fillipa1822
instigate1852
spark-plug1945
whomp1961
1945 Sun (Baltimore) 22 Sept. 4- o/2 Our own reconversion directors have just taken the lid off the construction industry with the hope..that a boom here will help sparkplug a general re-employment drive over the reconversion badlands.
1956 A. H. Compton Atomic Quest 322 It is important that our government spark-plug the advance of nuclear power.
1961 Time 7 July 63/2 Ray Stevens, 67, who sparkplugged the company's diversification, was president from 1956 to 1960.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1986; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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n.1903