spike

¹ American  

[spahyk] / spaɪk /

noun

1. 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.

2. something resembling such a nail; a stiff, sharp-pointed piece or part.

   to set spikes in the top of a cement wall.

3. a sharp-pointed piece of metal set with the point outward, as on a weapon.

4. an abrupt increase or rise.

   a chart showing a spike of unusual activity in the stock market; a sudden spike of electrical current.

5. 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.

6. spikes, a pair of shoes having such projections.

7. the unbranched antler of a young deer.

8. Botany. a flower stalk.

9. a pointed portion of a continuous curve or graph, usually rising above the adjacent portion.

   a spike in the value of the voltage.

10. Volleyball. a hard smash, hit close to the net, almost straight down into the opponent's court.

11. Slang. a hypodermic needle.

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verb (used with object)

• spikes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• spiked,
  past participle,  past
• spiking
  present participle

1. to fasten or secure with a spike or spikes.

2. to provide or set with a spike or spikes.

3. to pierce with or impale on a spike.

4. to set or stud with something suggesting spikes.

5. to injure (another player or a competitor) with the spikes of one's shoe, as in baseball.

6. 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.

7. Football. to slam (the ball) to the ground in the end zone, after scoring a touchdown.

8. to render (a muzzle-loading gun) useless by driving a spike into the touchhole.

9. to make ineffective; frustrate or thwart.

   to spike a rumor; to spike someone's chances for promotion.

10. Informal.

    1. to add alcoholic liquor to (a drink).

    2. to add (a chemical, poison, or other substance) to.

       The cocoa was spiked with cyanide.

11. Journalism Slang. to refuse (a story) by or as if by placing on a spindle.

verb (used without object)

• spikes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• spiked,
  past participle,  past
• spiking
  present participle

1. to rise or increase sharply (often followed byup ).

   Interest rates spiked up last week.

idioms

1. spike someone's guns. gun.

spike ² American  

[spahyk] / spaɪk /

noun

1. an ear, as of wheat or other grain.

2. Botany. an inflorescence in which the flowers are without a stalk, or apparently so, along an elongated, unbranched axis.

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spike ¹ British  

/ spaɪk /

noun

1. a sharp point

2. any sharp-pointed object, esp one made of metal

3. a long metal nail

4. physics

   1. a transient variation in voltage or current in an electric circuit

   2. a graphical recording of this, such as one of the peaks on an electroencephalogram

5. (plural) shoes with metal projections on the sole and heel for greater traction, as used by athletes

6. the straight unbranched antler of a young deer

7. slang another word for dosshouse

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verb

1. to secure or supply with or as with spikes

2. to render ineffective or block the intentions of; thwart

3. to impale on a spike

4. to add alcohol to (a drink)

5. journalism to reject (a news story)

6. volleyball to hit (a ball) sharply downwards with an overarm motion from the front of one's own court into the opposing court

7. (formerly) to render (a cannon) ineffective by blocking its vent with a spike

8. to thwart someone's purpose

spike ² British  

/ spaɪk /

noun

1. an inflorescence consisting of a raceme of sessile flowers, as in the gladiolus and sedges

2. an ear of wheat, barley, or any other grass that has sessile spikelets

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spike Scientific  

/ spīk /

1. 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.

2. See illustration at inflorescence

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• spikelike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• spiking
  present
• spiked
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• spike
  simple
• spikes
  simple
• have spiked
  perfect
• has spiked
  perfect
• am spiking
  progressive
• are spiking
  progressive
• is spiking
  progressive
• have been spiking
  perfect progressive
• has been spiking
  perfect progressive

Past

• spiked
  simple
• had spiked
  perfect
• was spiking
  progressive
• were spiking
  progressive
• had been spiking
  perfect progressive

Future

• will spike
  simple
• will have spiked
  perfect
• will be spiking
  progressive
• will have been spiking
  perfect progressive

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”

Explanation

A spike is a sharp point, often made of metal or wood, but not always. Hedgehogs have long skinny spikes that keep them from being eaten by predators. The wide metal nails that fasten railroad ties to rails are called "rail spikes." A spike can be big like those rail spikes, or small like the ones on the bottom of a cleat. And, extremely high-heeled shoes are sometimes called "spike heels." When something increases and abruptly decreases, like the price of sugar or a fever, it spikes. To spike a volleyball, smash it over the net. Spike shares a root with the Latin spina, for "spine or thorn."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spike spikes spiked spiking

Typically, those ailments — think flu and respiratory syncytial virus — spike in the winter, and aren’t really seen outside of that season.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

While a surprise loss of more than 20,000 jobs in the US economy last month eased fears of a Federal Reserve hike, a spike in price pressures could force the bank's hand.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

July consumer-price inflation data due Wednesday may reveal the extent of upward pressure on prices ahead of the latest spike in oil and gasoline prices.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

This spike comes after the company recorded a surge in cloud growth during the second quarter, backed by surging artificial intelligence demand.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026

Experts believe that cholera will continue to spike and ebb in Haiti until safe public water systems are available throughout the country.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

"The limited extension during this period makes a temporary contribution to mitigating the exposure of the electricity system and Spanish consumers to previously unforeseen price spikes," said the announcement.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

The fall in office occupancy has been spurred by permanent shifts to remote work, interest rate spikes and a trend of companies moving into smaller, more high-end buildings.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

Not long ago, AI moments arrived in sporadic, viral spikes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

Stronger margins protect airlines in tough times like the current moment, as jet-fuel spikes are pressuring the companies’ bottom lines, he noted.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026

Worst of all was his head: a helmet of twisted rock and metal with no particular shape—just jagged spikes and pulsing patches of magma.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

Social media accounts spiked, shirts sold out, match tickets went for stupid money.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

Sea, sand, spiked skyline, and mountains meet in one widescreen.

From Salon ● Aug. 11, 2026

He said the consumer-price index for July, due out Wednesday morning, could see an uptick since oil prices spiked during the second half of the month.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 9, 2026

She told me that mosquito populations spiked in areas with more human-made mosquito habitat, such as abandoned buildings, unkempt vacant lots, and piles of discarded bulky items.

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026

The highway transformed into a slate-colored river, spiked and prickled by relentless fat globules of rain.

From "100 Sideways Miles" by Andrew Smith

Consumer inflation came in at 2.4 percent in February, before spiking to a three-year high of 4.2 percent in May.

From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026

But with temperatures spiking, the crisis over smoke from the fire has given way to a second crisis over putrid smells, insects, rodents and growing concerns over sanitation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

Valve recently launched its new Steam Machine gaming PC with a higher price than expected, starting its announcement with a long explanation about spiking component costs.

From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026

Two months ago when I reported that spiking prices for those components would threaten Apple’s bottom line, some analysts I spoke to dismissed the idea.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026

Setting and spiking the ball were the same in any language.

From "A Long Walk to Water" by Linda Sue Park