sprite: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1 (Low frequency in everyday conversation; specialized in gaming/computing contexts)Literary, poetic, technical (computing/gaming); brand name in commerce.
Quick answer
What does “sprite” mean?
A small, supernatural being or elf, often depicted as playful and delicate, or the spirit of a person or place.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, supernatural being or elf, often depicted as playful and delicate, or the spirit of a person or place.
In computing, a two-dimensional bitmap that is integrated into a larger scene, often used in video games and graphics. Also used as a brand name for a lemon-lime soft drink, implying lightness and effervescence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The computing term is universally used.
Connotations
Both share literary and technical connotations.
Frequency
Equally low in general conversation; equally common in technical/gaming contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “sprite” in a Sentence
The [ADJECTIVE] sprite [VERBed] [PREP] the [NOUN].A sprite of [NOUN/PHRASE].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sprite” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The old tale spoke of a water sprite living in the mill pond.
- The game developer spent hours designing each sprite.
American English
- A mischievous forest sprite was blamed for the missing berries.
- The sprite's animation was limited to 16 frames.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in reference to the beverage brand.
Academic
Used in literature studies (folklore) and computer graphics papers.
Everyday
Very rare; mostly recognized as a drink brand.
Technical
Common in game development and computer graphics.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sprite”
- Using 'sprite' to mean a general 'ghost' or 'spectre' (it implies smallness and often playfulness).
- Confusing the computing term with a general 'image' or 'icon' (it specifically is part of a larger scene and often animated).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Very similar, but 'sprite' often suggests a smaller, more delicate, and sometimes more masculine or neutral being than the typical 'fairy'.
An icon is a static symbolic image, often for user interfaces. A sprite is a graphical object, often animated, that is part of a larger scene (like a character or projectile in a game).
It comes from the Old French 'esprit', meaning 'spirit', which itself derives from the Latin 'spiritus'.
No. It is only capitalized when referring specifically to the trademarked soft drink. The folklore and computing terms are written in lowercase.
A small, supernatural being or elf, often depicted as playful and delicate, or the spirit of a person or place.
Sprite is usually literary, poetic, technical (computing/gaming); brand name in commerce. in register.
Sprite: in British English it is pronounced /spraɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /spraɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated; concept appears in phrases like 'as mischievous as a sprite'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SPRITE as a SPRightly, playful elvITE.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIGHTNESS / PLAYFULNESS IS SPRITE-LIKE (e.g., 'She moved with the lightness of a sprite').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'sprite' LEAST likely to be used?