[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/lark/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [L](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/l/) / lark

# lark

noun (a lark, larks); verb (lark about/around, larks, larked, larking)

«lark» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A lark is a small brown songbird that sings while flying high, such as the skylark. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lark/#m1)
2. (informal, UK) A lark is something done for fun or as a joke. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lark/#m2)
3. (verb, informal) To lark about or lark around is to play in a silly, noisy way. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lark/#m3)
4. (informal, UK) «This X lark» means a kind of activity, said in a slightly jokey or fed-up way. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lark/#m4)
5. A lark can also be a person who is cheerful, fond of fun and mischief. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lark/#m5)

### In the lessons

In science and nature, skylarks are famous for singing high in the sky. In everyday talk, «for a lark» means just for fun, and «stop larking about!» is what teachers say to silly pupils. In stories and poems, «up with the lark» means getting up very early. Common phrases: «for a lark», «lark about», «up with the lark», «a night owl or a lark», «what a lark!».

### Examples

- A skylark sang high above the field. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lark/#x1)
- We dressed up as pirates just for a lark. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lark/#x2)
- Stop larking about and line up! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lark/#x3)
- Grandma is up with the lark every morning. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lark/#x4)
- I'm a lark, not a night owl — I like mornings. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lark/#x5)
- «This homework lark is hard work,» said Dad. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lark/#x6)
- The boys were larking around in the pool. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lark/#x7)
- I used to be called a complete lark. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lark/#x8)

### Note

Plural: larks. The informal meanings are mostly British. A «lark» (morning person) is the opposite of a «night owl». Not rude.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «lark» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lark/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«lark» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/lark.html) on Mova free.