lark
lark Lexical Profile
lark Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A spontaneous, carefree adventure, frolic, or harmless prank undertaken primarily for fun.
"On a lark, they decided to drive to the coast at midnight to watch the sunrise."
A small, primarily brown ground-dwelling songbird of the family Alaudidae, found chiefly in the Old World and renowned for its melodious singing while in flight.
"We paused our hike through the meadow to listen to a lark singing brightly above us."
A person who naturally wakes up early in the morning and is most energetic during the early hours of the day.
"Because she is a natural lark, she gets most of her important work done before eight in the morning."
• verb
To engage in harmless fun, playful mischief, or merrymaking (often used with 'about' or 'around').
"The children spent the afternoon larking about in the tall grass near the river."
Word Nuance & Usage
The noun 'lark' can refer to a biological bird, a spontaneous and playful adventure (often used in the phrase 'on a lark'), or an early riser (in contrast to a 'night owl').
• Rhymes for lark
Word Origin & Etymology
The bird name derives from Old English 'lāwerce', of Germanic origin. The sense of 'a frolic' or 'fun' is of uncertain origin, possibly an alteration of the northern English dialect word 'lake' (to play) or a figurative reference to the bird's playful flight.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.