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.
a toll road or highway; turnpike.
a tollgate on a turnpike.
the toll paid at a tollgate.
a sharply pointed projection or spike.
the pointed end of anything, as of an arrow or a spear.
James Albert, 1913–69, U.S. Protestant Episcopal clergyman, lawyer, and author.
Zebulon Montgomery 1779–1813, U.S. general and explorer.
a medieval weapon consisting of an iron or steel spearhead joined to a long pole, the pikestaff
a point or spike
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
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English; so called from its pointed snout ( see pike 5)
First recorded in 1505–15; from Middle French pique, feminine variant of pic “a pointed tool,” from Germanic. See pick 2, pike 5, pique 1
An Americanism dating back to 1820–30; short for turnpike
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; special use of pike 5; compare Old English hornpīc “pinnacle”
First recorded before 900; Middle English pik “pick, spike, (pilgrim's) staff,” Old English pīc “pointed tool”; see pick 2
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English pyke (intransitive); perhaps originally “to equip oneself with a walking stick”; see pike 5
First recorded in 1955–60; perhaps special use of pike 1
A pike was a long, spear-like weapon that infantry troops used in the medieval and Renaissance eras. Fighting with a pike while riding a horse required great balance. The difference between a pike and a spear is that a pike must be held with two hands in order to be thrust in the direction of an enemy fighter. The pointed end of a pike or spear is also known as a pike. It might seem confusing that a pike is also a type of freshwater fish, until you see the pike's sharp, pointed (pike-like) nose. In transportation, pike can refer to a highway. Finally, pike can mean a position in gymnastics or diving in which an athlete bends at the waist with toes pointed. The Old English root, piic, means "point."
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But if it’s part of a larger pattern of opacity, instability and conflicting messaging, something larger might be coming down the pike.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 12, 2026
“The market is thinking there’s a lot more downside coming down the pike than upside on inflation,” Skyler Weinand, chief investment officer of Regan Capital, said in a phone interview.
From MarketWatch ● May 12, 2026
I will not switch the topic to the NBA Lottery or the French Open or tell you about the northern pike my son caught this weekend at Lake Monona.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 11, 2026
Their analysis showed that pike across all age groups increased their fish consumption as temperatures rose.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 25, 2026
She admired the fish extravagantly, rewarded the fisherman with a purse of silver, and sent the pike to her kitchens.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
“The market is removing a bit of risk premium priced into yields,” said Scott Pike, senior portfolio manager at Income Research & Management.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 15, 2026
Rosamund Pike called out an audience member for texting during an emotional moment from her performance in West End play Inter Alia on Saturday, saying: "When I feel that and see it, it's hard."
From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026
Gererd Pike of Hooked Up Fishing said his fishing charter boat was six miles from Kennedy Shoal on Sunday and he had seen large numbers of "vicious, unpredictable" bull sharks in the area.
From Barron's ● May 24, 2026
But Ms. Pike is terrific, as are Ms. Shaw, Mr. Dance and Mr. Baron Cohen, an agile comedian in a production that isn’t particularly taxing, except as regards our expectations for fully original comedy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
Clive Pike, to my left, eyes beetling bigger than humanly possible, g-force ribbling his face.
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
She added: “Probably done 100 Yurchenko double pikes, and the first one and then the last one I’ve done, they all feel the same — scary.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2024
Wooden pikes floated up next to store windows.
From New York Times ● Apr. 1, 2023
One gun did not give its possessor an advantage in battle over opponents armed with swords, pikes, or lances.
From Textbooks ● Dec. 14, 2022
The store, in the Baileys Crossroads area, is northwest of the Skyline Towers development and southeast of the intersection of Leesburg and Columbia pikes.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 20, 2021
Aided by bucklers and their own agility, the Spanish got in between and underneath the Germans’ long pikes and were able to hurt them at their pleasure, without the Germans having any remedy.
From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli
Here’s what happened: First, my stomach sank as the Russian Olympic Committee’s normally-stunning Nikita Nagornyy debuted his triple back piked salto—only to almost sit down the landing and stumble out of bounds multiple times.
From Slate ● Aug. 1, 2021
And whether she gets the piked Arabian on beam named after her, or makes it back to Worlds or even the Olympics, she doesn’t expect medals to be her comeback legacy.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 27, 2020
The 'firework' 3.5 somersault with one twist routine replaces what had become known as his 'demon' dive - a piked 2.5 somersault, 2.5 twist routine - which Taylor actually invented.
From BBC ● Feb. 17, 2015
She soared so high on her first release, flipping herself up and back over the bar, her legs piked, that she could have reached out and touched her toes before grabbing the bar.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 9, 2012
Peter dug his crutches into the turf and piked hard.
From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker
But I'll never go piking off through the country alone so long as I know what I am doing.
From Rodney The Partisan by Castlemon, Harry
Sometimes the enthusiasts are piking even in February, getting fish from 2 lb. to 20 lb., which Dr. Henshall, the well-known author and naturalist, pronounces true Esox lucius.
From Lines in Pleasant Places Being the Aftermath of an Old Angler by Senior, William
Still piking, eh?" he chuckled; "you wouldn't trail along after Your Uncle Bunch and get next to the candy man, would you?
From Back to the Woods by McHugh, Hugh
Would like to see him begging his bread, would you, or piking in the bucket-shops for five-dollar bills!
From Old Gorgon Graham More Letters from a Self-Made Merchant to His Son by Lorimer, George Horace
I don't want anybody up here piking around just because I took a double header into space.
From Tom Slade at Black Lake by Hastings, Howard L. (Howard Livingston)
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.
