spike
1 Americannoun
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a naillike fastener, 3 to 12 inches (7.6 to 30.5 centimeters) long and proportionately thicker than a common nail, for fastening together heavy timbers or railroad track.
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something resembling such a nail; a stiff, sharp-pointed piece or part.
to set spikes in the top of a cement wall.
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a sharp-pointed piece of metal set with the point outward, as on a weapon.
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an abrupt increase or rise.
a chart showing a spike of unusual activity in the stock market; a sudden spike of electrical current.
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a rectangular or naillike metal projection on the heel and sole of a shoe for improving traction, as of a baseball player or a runner.
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spikes, a pair of shoes having such projections.
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the unbranched antler of a young deer.
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Botany. a flower stalk.
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a pointed portion of a continuous curve or graph, usually rising above the adjacent portion.
a spike in the value of the voltage.
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Volleyball. a hard smash, hit close to the net, almost straight down into the opponent's court.
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Slang. a hypodermic needle.
verb (used with object)
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to fasten or secure with a spike or spikes.
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to provide or set with a spike or spikes.
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to pierce with or impale on a spike.
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to set or stud with something suggesting spikes.
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to injure (another player or a competitor) with the spikes of one's shoe, as in baseball.
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Volleyball. to hit (a ball in the air) with a powerful, overarm motion from a position close to the net so as to cause it to travel almost straight down into the court of the opponents.
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Football. to slam (the ball) to the ground in the end zone, after scoring a touchdown.
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to render (a muzzle-loading gun) useless by driving a spike into the touchhole.
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to make ineffective; frustrate or thwart.
to spike a rumor; to spike someone's chances for promotion.
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Informal.
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to add alcoholic liquor to (a drink).
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to add (a chemical, poison, or other substance) to.
The cocoa was spiked with cyanide.
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Journalism Slang. to refuse (a story) by or as if by placing on a spindle.
verb (used without object)
idioms
noun
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an ear, as of wheat or other grain.
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Botany. an inflorescence in which the flowers are without a stalk, or apparently so, along an elongated, unbranched axis.
noun
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a sharp point
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any sharp-pointed object, esp one made of metal
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a long metal nail
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physics
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a transient variation in voltage or current in an electric circuit
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a graphical recording of this, such as one of the peaks on an electroencephalogram
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(plural) shoes with metal projections on the sole and heel for greater traction, as used by athletes
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the straight unbranched antler of a young deer
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slang another word for dosshouse
verb
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to secure or supply with or as with spikes
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to render ineffective or block the intentions of; thwart
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to impale on a spike
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to add alcohol to (a drink)
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journalism to reject (a news story)
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volleyball to hit (a ball) sharply downwards with an overarm motion from the front of one's own court into the opposing court
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(formerly) to render (a cannon) ineffective by blocking its vent with a spike
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to thwart someone's purpose
noun
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an inflorescence consisting of a raceme of sessile flowers, as in the gladiolus and sedges
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an ear of wheat, barley, or any other grass that has sessile spikelets
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An elongated indeterminate inflorescence in which the flowers are attached directly to a common stem, rather than borne on individual stalks arising from the stem. The gladiolus produces spikes. The distinctive spikes of grasses such as wheat or barley are known as spikelets.
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See illustration at inflorescence
Other Word Forms
- spikelike adjective
Etymology
Origin of spike1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English noun spik(e), from Old Norse spīkr “nail”; akin to Old Norse spīk “splinter,” Middle Low German spīker “nail”
Origin of spike2
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English spik(e), spika, probably special use of spike 1, influenced by Latin spīca “ear of grain”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Over time, frequent intake may also play a role in fatty liver disease, similar to other sugary products that spike blood sugar and encourage fat storage in the liver.
From Science Daily
But Jorge Leon, an analyst at Rystad Energy, warned the agreed increase was potentially not large enough to prevent the Iran conflict causing a spike in oil prices when trading opens on Monday.
From Barron's
There’s little doubt that the military strikes launched this weekend by the U.S. and Israel on Iran, one of the world’s largest crude producers, will lead to a spike in oil prices.
From MarketWatch
But when she arrives at Iona’s apartment, Andie is shocked to see that a coiffed perm, light makeup, a sensible suit and a string of pearls have replaced her friend’s beehives and gelled spikes.
From Salon
Most mainstream analysts had thought a direct hit on Iran’s oil export infrastructure was unlikely because it would risk a sharp price spike, higher gasoline prices, and wider regional blowback.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
