stark
pronunciation
How to pronounce stark in British English:
UK [stɑːk]
How to pronounce stark in American English:
US [stɑːrk]
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- Adjective:
- devoid of any qualifications or disguise or adornment
- severely simple
- complete or extreme
- without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers
- providing no shelter or sustenance
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- Adverb:
- completely
Word Origin
- stark (adj.)
- Old English stearc "stiff, strong, rigid, obstinate; stern, severe, hard; harsh, rough, violent," from Proto-Germanic *starkaz (cognates: Old Norse sterkr, Danish, Old Frisian sterk, Middle Dutch starc, Old High German starah, German stark, Gothic *starks), from PIE root *ster- (1) "stiff, rigid" (see stereo-). From the same root as stare (v.). Meaning "utter, sheer, complete" first recorded c. 1400, perhaps from influence of common phrase stark dead (late 14c.), with stark mistaken as an intensive adjective. Sense of "bare, barren" is from 1833. As an adverb from c. 1200. Related: Starkly; starkness. Stark-raving (adj.) is from 1640s; earlier stark-staring 1530s.
Example
- 1. The contrast with april 's london summit is stark .
- 2. Yet another stark difference concerns global warming .
- 3. That second factor helps explain why there is a stark difference between america and europe .
- 4. Mr stark was absolutely right .
- 5. A missionary couple brought him to warburton , where he was struck by the stark desert landscape .