Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
sparking plug

sparking plug

3.9
A small electric part that makes a spark to light the fuel in a car engine
  • noun
  • /ˈspɑrkɪŋ plʌg/
  • Archaic
translation icon : bujía
  • The mechanic replaced the spark plug in my car.

Examples

  • Without a functioning sparking plug, the engine would not be able to run.

  • The mechanic checked the sparking plug to diagnose the engine trouble.

  • Old cars often needed their sparking plugs cleaned or replaced to start efficiently.

  • A faulty spark plug can cause engine problems.

  • The mechanic replaced the old sparking plug to improve the engine's performance.

  • A faulty sparking plug can cause your car to misfire and run poorly.

  • He learned how to check the sparking plug as part of his car maintenance routine.

Synonyms

plug
vssparking plug
  • Specialized
32 6.8

A device in an engine that makes a small electric spark to ignite fuel

refers to igniting the fuel and air mixture rather than fuel alone
spark plug
vssparking plug
  • Specialized
16 3.5

A small part in a car engine that makes a tiny electric flash to light the fuel and air

has identical meaning but is an alternative form of the same term

Surface Forms

sparking plug singular
sparking plugs plural
spark plugs plural
spark plug singular

Morphology

spark + plug

The term (more commonly 'spark plug') is a straightforward composition of 'spark' + 'plug' and denotes a part that produces or involves sparks; a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it is an electrical/mechanical device that creates sparks to ignite fuel. The meaning is literal and follows common noun‑compound patterns used cross‑linguistically for naming machine parts, so it is immediately derivable from its constituents.

Etymology

The noun sparking plug comes from the parts spark and plug. It is a small metal plug that fits into an engine and makes an electric spark to 'light' the fuel so the engine can 'start'.