spark plug

noun

1
: a part that fits into the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine and carries two electrodes separated by an air gap across which the current from the ignition system discharges to form the spark for combustion
2
: one that initiates or gives impetus to an undertaking
sparkplug transitive verb

Examples of spark plug in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Their first couple of men off the bench, former Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo, are spark plugs. Fred Katz, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025 Tampa Bay hopes to have back WR Mike Evans for Monday, but could be missing spark plug rookie WR Emeka Egbuka as well as WR Chris Godwin and RB Bucky Irving again. Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025 Unlike gasoline internal combustion engines that use spark plugs to ignite the compressed air and fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of each cylinder, diesel engines operate without an external spark. New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2025 Miles McBride is a spark plug at the point guard spot, and Landry Shamet is a deadly 3-point shooter. Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spark plug

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spark plug was in 1903

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Cite this Entry

“Spark plug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spark%20plug. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

spark plug

noun
1
: a device used in an engine to produce a spark that ignites a fuel mixture
2
: one that begins something or drives something forward

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