The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms INTRO ...

spark n. 1 scintilla, flicker, glimmer, glint, sparkle, speck, hint,
suggestion, vestige, atom, whit, jot (or tittle), iota: As long
as a spark of life remained in his body he fought for freedom
and justice.
--v. 2 Often, spark off. set or touch off, ignite, kindle,
enkindle, electrify, animate, trigger, energize, galvanize,
activate, excite, stimulate, set in motion, bring about, start
(up), begin, initiate, inspire, inspirit, provoke, precipitate:
Was there any single factor that sparked the Renaissance?
sparkle v. 1 glitter, scintillate, glint, flicker, shine, twinkle,
wink, blink, glimmer, flash, coruscate, blaze, burn, flame: The
setting sun sparkled on the sea. Brian's eyes sparkled with an
inner fire. 2 effervesce, fizz, bubble: We ordered a jeroboam
of sparkling Burgundy.
--n. 3 glitter, scintillation, twinkle, coruscation, dazzle,
spark, gleam, brightness, brilliance, radiance: I fear that the
sparkle has gone out of her smile. 4 vivacity, liveliness,
fire, brightness, wittiness, effervescence, ebullience,
excitement, animation, vigour, energy, spirit, cheer, joy,
light-heartedness, ‚lan, zeal, gusto, dash, life, gaiety, cheer,
cheerfulness; certain something; Colloq vim, zip, zing, pizazz,
oomph: It is easy to see that she gets her sparkle from her
mother.
sparse adj. 1 thin (on the ground), few (and far between), meagre,
scanty, (widely) dispersed or scattered, spread out, spotty, in
short supply, scarce: Tourists are sparse in Scotland in
January. Sparse blooms appeared on the rose-bushes this year. 2
little, limited, meagre, scant, sparing, inappreciable, not
much, insignificant: Sparse use was made of the new tennis
court because of the rain.
Spartan adj. austere, strict, severe, harsh, hard, stern, rigorous,
rigid, ascetic, stringent, controlled, disciplined,
self-denying, abstinent, abstemious: He gave up all luxuries
and today lives a Spartan life in the forest.
spasm n. 1 convulsion, throe, fit, twitch, paroxysm: Deprived of his
medication, Brian might go into spasms. 2 fit, seizure,