spike

[spahyk]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR spike ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a naillike fastener, 3 to 12 inches (7.6 to 30.5 cm) long and proportionately thicker than a common nail, for fastening together heavy timbers or railroad track.

something resembling such a nail; a stiff, sharp-pointed piece or part: to set spikes in the top of a cement wall.

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

an abrupt increase or rise: a chart showing a spike of unusual activity in the stock market; a sudden spike of electrical current.

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.

spikes, a pair of shoes having such projections.

the unbranched antler of a young deer.

Botany. a flower stalk.

a pointed portion of a continuous curve or graph, usually rising above the adjacent portion: a spike in the value of the voltage.

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

Slang. a hypodermic needle.

verb (used with object), spiked, spik·ing.

to fasten or secure with a spike or spikes.

to provide or set with a spike or spikes.

to pierce with or impale on a spike.

to set or stud with something suggesting spikes.

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

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.

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

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

to make ineffective; frustrate or thwart: to spike a rumor; to spike someone's chances for promotion.

Informal.

to add alcoholic liquor to (a drink).
to add (a chemical, poison, or other substance) to: The cocoa was spiked with cyanide.

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

verb (used without object), spiked, spik·ing.

to rise or increase sharply (often followed by up): Interest rates spiked up last week.

Idioms

spike someone's guns. gun¹(def 16).

Origin of spike

1300–50; Middle English spik(e) (noun) < Old Norse spīkr nail; akin to Old Norse spīk, Middle Low German spīker nail

Related formsspike·like, adjective

spike

[spahyk]

noun

an ear, as of wheat or other grain.

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

Origin of spike

1350–1400; Middle English; probably special use of spike¹, influenced by Latin spīca ear of grain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for spike

lance, prick, spit, spear, transfix, nail, stick, pin, fasten, impale, skewer

Examples from the Web for spike

Contemporary Examples of spike

In a famous rant, Spike Lee blamed hipsters for the gentrication of his old neighborhood in Brooklyn.
Why Do We Hate Hipsters So F'ing Much?
Ted Gioia
July 13, 2014
On Friday evening, a crowd of Hollywood luminaries gathered to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Spike Lee classic.
Watch Barack and Michelle Obama’s Video Dedication to Spike Lee’s ‘Do the Right Thing’
Marlow Stern
June 29, 2014
“So Spike, thank you for helping me impress Michelle, and thank you for telling a powerful story,” added President Obama.
Watch Barack and Michelle Obama’s Video Dedication to Spike Lee’s ‘Do the Right Thing’
Marlow Stern
June 29, 2014
Both shows are still on the air (although Cops has since been sold to the Spike Network).
‘Silicon Valley’ and the Return of Stoner Television
Rich Goldstein
April 10, 2014
Spike Lee and The New York Times' A.O. Scott disagree on this.
Spike Lee Blasts The New York Times’ Story on Brooklyn Gentrification in Fiery Op-Ed
Marlow Stern
March 31, 2014

Historical Examples of spike

"I have been a very wicked man, I fear," said Spike, earnestly.
Graham's Magazine Vol XXXII. No. 3. March 1848
Various
In the midst of one of these revolting paroxysms Spike breathed his last.
Graham's Magazine Vol XXXII. No. 3. March 1848
Various
Spike had a conscience that had become hard as iron by means of trade.
Graham's Magazine Vol. XXXII No. 2. February 1848
Various
Why did Capt. Spike abandon you, Jack; you have never told me that.
Graham's Magazine Vol. XXXII No. 2. February 1848
Various
But Spike neglected no precaution that experience or skill could suggest.
Graham's Magazine Vol XXXII No. 1 January 1848
Various

British Dictionary definitions for spike

spike

noun

a sharp point

any sharp-pointed object, esp one made of metal

a long metal nail

physics

a transient variation in voltage or current in an electric circuit
a graphical recording of this, such as one of the peaks on an electroencephalogram

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

the straight unbranched antler of a young deer

British slang another word for dosshouse

verb (mainly tr)

to secure or supply with or as with spikes

to render ineffective or block the intentions of; thwart

to impale on a spike

to add alcohol to (a drink)

journalism to reject (a news story)

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

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

spike someone's guns to thwart someone's purpose

Word Origin for spike

C13 spyk; related to Old English spīcing nail, Old Norse spīk splinter, Middle Low German spīker spike, Norwegian spīk spoke ², Latin spīca sharp point; see spike ²

spike

noun botany

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

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

Word Origin for spike

C14: from Latin spīca ear of corn

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

Word Origin and History for spike

n.1

"large nail," mid-14c., perhaps from Old Norse spik "splinter" (related to Old English spicing "large nail"), from Proto-Germanic *spikaz (cf. Middle Dutch spicher, Dutch spijker "nail," Old English spaca, Old High German speihha "spoke"), from PIE root *spei- "sharp point" (cf. Latin spica "ear of corn," spina "thorn, prickle, backbone," and perhaps pinna "pin" (see pin (n.)); Greek spilas "rock, cliff;" Lettish spile "wooden fork;" Lithuanian speigliai "thorns," spitna "tongue of a buckle," Old English spitu "spit").

But based on gender difficulties in the Germanic words, OED casts doubt on this whole derivation and says the English word may be a borrowing of Latin spica (see spike (n.2)), from the same root. Slang meaning "needle" is from 1923. Meaning "pointed stud in athletic shoes" is from 1832. Electrical sense of "pulse of short duration" is from 1935.

n.2

"ear of grain," late 14c., from Latin spica "ear of grain," related to spina "thorn" (see spike (n.1)).

1620s, "to fasten with spikes," see spike (n.1). Meaning "To rise in a spike" is from 1958. Military sense (1680s) means "to disable guns by driving a big nail into the touch-hole." Figurative use of this sense is from 1823. Meaning "to lace (a drink) with liquor" is from 1889. Journalism sense of "to kill a story before publication" (1908) is from the metal spindle in which old-time editors filed hard copy of stories after they were set in type, or especially when rejected for publication.

spike in Medicine

spike

[spīk]

n.

A brief electrical event of 3 to 25 milliseconds that gives the appearance in the electroencephalogram of a rising and falling vertical line.

spike in Science

spike

[spīk]

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. See illustration at inflorescence.