plural sprites
3
: a form of electrical discharge that sometimes is emitted upwards from the top of a cumulonimbus cloud during a thunderstorm at the same time that lightning strikes downward and that usually appears as a red or reddish-orange flash of light
Atmospheric scientist Walter Lyons and his colleagues … noticed unusual behavior in storms over the plains: They triggered huge numbers of "sprites"—ghostly red glows of excited nitrogen molecules often seen high above violent storms.—
Robert Irion
Robert Irion4
: a bitmapped image or repeating loop of images that can move independently on a display often on top of a static background
Sprites are complex mathematically constructed models, sometimes simple (such as a computer cursor) and sometimes more complex, perhaps even humanoid in appearance.—Stewart Fist
Stewart FistWhile the main character and enemy sprites in this … shooter are unusually large and detailed for the era, what really makes this game stand out are the highly detailed backgrounds that stand toe-to-toe with better-known NES games.—Chris Freiberg
Chris FreibergGaming has grown from an eight-bit industry with sprites dancing across the cathode ray tube televisions of the '80s and '90s into a $180 billion global juggernaut with an audience that is larger than sports, movies and music combined.—Andy Brownfield
Andy BrownfieldSynonyms
Examples of sprite in a Sentence
the child insisted that he'd seen a sprite hiding in the garden
told hair-raising stories of sprites and spectral ships
Recent Examples on the Web
But unlike Michelangelo, who was known for his muscular figures, Butcher peopled his chapel with his signature sprites.
—Penelope Green, Baltimore Sun, 1 July 2024
For the first half of the tale, Karin and Anzu, who is also a chiropractor and enjoys gambling, work odd jobs together and hang out with the other sprites.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 22 June 2024
Eleanor Kats-Chernin’s lovely original score dances around Gracie’s monologue like a sprite.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 14 June 2024
New emotions soon enter headed by Anxiety (Maya Hawke), a carrot-colored sprite with jumpy eyebrows and excitable hair.
—Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 12 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for sprite 
Penelope Green, Baltimore Sun, 1 July 2024
For the first half of the tale, Karin and Anzu, who is also a chiropractor and enjoys gambling, work odd jobs together and hang out with the other sprites.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 22 June 2024
Eleanor Kats-Chernin’s lovely original score dances around Gracie’s monologue like a sprite.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 14 June 2024
New emotions soon enter headed by Anxiety (Maya Hawke), a carrot-colored sprite with jumpy eyebrows and excitable hair.
—Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 12 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for sprite
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sprite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Sprite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprite. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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