pike

1
[ pahyk ]
/ paɪk /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR pike ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural (especially collectively) pike, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) pikes.

any of several large, slender, voracious freshwater fishes of the genus Esox, having a long, flat snout.
any of various superficially similar fishes, as the walleye or pikeperch.

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Origin of pike

1
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English; so called from its pointed snout (see pike5)

OTHER WORDS FROM pike

pikelike, adjective

Words nearby pike

pihoihoi, PIK, pika, pikake, pikau, pike, pikeblenny, piked dogfish, pikelet, pikeman, pikeperch

Definition for pike (2 of 8)

pike2
[ pahyk ]
/ paɪk /

noun

a shafted weapon having a pointed head, formerly used by infantry.

verb (used with object), piked, pik·ing.

to pierce, wound, or kill with or as with a pike.

Origin of pike

2
First recorded in 1505–15; from Middle French pique, feminine variant of pic “a pointed tool,” from Germanic. See pick2, pike5, pique1

Definition for pike (3 of 8)

pike3
[ pahyk ]
/ paɪk /

noun

a toll road or highway; turnpike.
a tollgate on a turnpike.
the toll paid at a tollgate.

Origin of pike

3
An Americanism dating back to 1820–30; short for turnpike

Definition for pike (4 of 8)

pike4
[ pahyk ]
/ paɪk /

noun Chiefly British.

a hill or mountain with a pointed summit.

Origin of pike

4
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; special use of pike5; compare Old English hornpīc “pinnacle”

Definition for pike (5 of 8)

pike5
[ pahyk ]
/ paɪk /

noun

a sharply pointed projection or spike.
the pointed end of anything, as of an arrow or a spear.

Origin of pike

5
First recorded before 900; Middle English pik “pick, spike, (pilgrim's) staff,” Old English pīc “pointed tool”; see pick2

Definition for pike (6 of 8)

pike6
[ pahyk ]
/ paɪk /

verb (used without object), piked, pik·ing.Older Slang.

to go, leave, or move along quickly.

Origin of pike

6
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English pyke (intransitive); perhaps originally “to equip oneself with a walking stick”; see pike5

Definition for pike (7 of 8)

pike7
[ pahyk ]
/ paɪk /

noun Diving, Gymnastics.

a body position, resembling a V shape, in which the back and head are bent forward and the legs lifted and held together, with the hands touching the feet or backs of the knees or the arms extended sideways.Compare layout (def. 10), tuck1 (def. 13).

Origin of pike

7
First recorded in 1955–60; perhaps special use of pike1

Definition for pike (8 of 8)

Pike
[ pahyk ]
/ paɪk /

noun

James Albert, 1913–69, U.S. Protestant Episcopal clergyman, lawyer, and author.
Zeb·u·lon Montgomery [zeb-yoo-luhn], /ˈzɛb yʊ lən/, 1779–1813, U.S. general and explorer.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to pike

lance, thruway, point, drive, freeway, expressway, road, tollgate, parkway

Example sentences from the Web for pike

British Dictionary definitions for pike (1 of 5)

pike1
/ (paɪk) /

noun plural pike or pikes

any of several large predatory freshwater teleost fishes of the genus Esox, esp E. lucius (northern pike), having a broad flat snout, strong teeth, and an elongated body covered with small scales: family Esocidae
any of various similar fishes

Word Origin for pike

C14: short for pikefish, from Old English pīc point, with reference to the shape of its jaw

British Dictionary definitions for pike (2 of 5)

pike2
/ (paɪk) /

noun

a medieval weapon consisting of an iron or steel spearhead joined to a long pole, the pikestaff
a point or spike

verb

(tr) to stab or pierce using a pike

Word Origin for pike

Old English pīc point, of obscure origin

British Dictionary definitions for pike (3 of 5)

pike3
/ (paɪk) /

noun

short for turnpike (def. 1)

British Dictionary definitions for pike (4 of 5)

pike4
/ (paɪk) /

noun

Northern English dialect a pointed or conical hill

Word Origin for pike

Old English pīc, of obscure origin

British Dictionary definitions for pike (5 of 5)

pike5

piked (paɪkt)

/ (paɪk) /

adjective

(of the body position of a diver) bent at the hips but with the legs straight

Word Origin for pike

C20: of obscure origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012