pike

[ pahyk ]

/ paɪk /

Save This Word!

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.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of pike

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

Other definitions 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

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

Other definitions 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

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

Other definitions 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”

Other definitions 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

Other definitions 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

Other definitions 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. 14).

Origin of pike

⁷

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

Other definitions 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. 2023

How to use pike in a sentence

In addition, Pike notes that “pandemic, and the time off, opened many people’s eyes to so many injustices, inequities and racism in our world.”
As You Are Bar offers a place to belong|Evan Caplan|April 8, 2021|Washington Blade
She said Wednesday that she will “definitely debut” another new skill, a Yurchenko double pike on vault, before Tokyo.
Simone Biles, the world’s most dominant gymnast, has something new for Tokyo|Emily Giambalvo|April 8, 2021|Washington Post
Pike has played a version of this role before, as the carrara-cool wife in Gone Girl, and she’s not bad at it.
We Need More Female Villains Onscreen—But Not the Kind We Get in I Care a Lot|Stephanie Zacharek|February 19, 2021|Time
We will have proven the ability of this technology to scale up manufacturing, and that scale-up of manufacturing will have implications not just for other vaccines, also for other mRNA medicines coming down the pike.
How to Fix the Incentives in Cancer Research (Ep. 449)|Stephen J. Dubner|January 28, 2021|Freakonomics

The gunslinging 5-foot-4-inch president galloped on the pike toward Bladensburg.
In 1814, British forces burned the U.S. Capitol|Joel Achenbach|January 6, 2021|Washington Post
With lights flashing, the cruiser arrived at the Blooming Grove State Police barracks in Pike County.
Killer Eric Frein Held in Murdered Cop’s Cuffs|Michael Daly|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Tall, dark, and handsome Ben Affleck against icy blonde Rosamund Pike.
David Fincher’s Backseat Feminism|Teo Bugbee|October 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There's a scene in which a nude Amy Elliott-Dunne, played with committed gusto by Rosamund Pike, is washing off in the shower.
Yes, Ben Affleck Goes Full-Frontal in ‘Gone Girl,’ Confronting One of Cinema’s Last Taboos|Marlow Stern|October 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Check out the popular bakery Piroshky Piroshky in Pike Place Market for some Eastern European stuffed delights.
Where to Celebrate the Olympics by Drinking Russian Style|William O’Connor|February 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Many probably believed he would emerge from the side carrying a pike with the head of a banker.
Wall Street CEOs Say It’s The Best of Times and The Worst of Times|Daniel Gross|November 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
If ever the cool impudence was suddenly taken out of a man, this question seemed to take it out of Pike.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
After that Pike was a little more cautious, and kept aloof for a time; but Val knew that he was still watched on occasion.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
"I was just thinking the same thing yesterday—that your lordship was always meeting me," said Pike.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
Pike's head suddenly appeared above the hurdles, and he began inquiring after her health.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
You'll get interfered with in a way you won't like, Pike, one of these days, unless you mend your manners.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood

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

pike

Origin of pike

OTHER WORDS FROM pike

Words nearby pike

Other definitions for pike (2 of 8)

Origin of pike

Other definitions for pike (3 of 8)

Origin of pike

Other definitions for pike (4 of 8)

Origin of pike

Other definitions for pike (5 of 8)

Origin of pike

Other definitions for pike (6 of 8)

Origin of pike

Other definitions for pike (7 of 8)

Origin of pike

Other definitions for pike (8 of 8)

Words related to pike

How to use pike in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pike (1 of 5)

Word Origin for pike

British Dictionary definitions for pike (2 of 5)

Word Origin for pike

British Dictionary definitions for pike (3 of 5)

British Dictionary definitions for pike (4 of 5)

Word Origin for pike

British Dictionary definitions for pike (5 of 5)

piked (paɪkt)

Word Origin for pike