noun
lark
lahk
noun
1
A small songbird known for its cheerful singing, often heard early in the morning.
"A lark sang high above the meadow at dawn."
2
A harmless prank or bit of fun.
"Dressing up as ghosts was just a lark for the kids."
"They stole the traffic cone for a lark, then put it back."
verb
1
To have fun or act mischievously, often in the phrase "lark about."
"The boys were larking about near the riverbank."
How to Use Lark
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the small singing bird, or a bit of harmless fun/mischief.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the noun "a lark" (fun) with the phrase "up with the lark," which just means waking up early.
Common pairings
lark about
just for a lark
up with the lark
Word Forms
larked past tense, larked past tense, larks plural, larks plural, larks singular, larks singular
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A _____ sang high above the meadow at dawn.
Etymology
From Old English lāwerce, referring to the bird — the sense of "prank" developed much later and its origin is uncertain.