spike

[ spahyk ]

/ spaɪk /

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See synonyms for: spike / spiked / spikes on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

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.

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Idioms about spike

spike someone's guns. gun¹ (def. 16).

Origin of spike

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”

OTHER WORDS FROM spike

spikelike, adjective

Words nearby spike

spiffy, spiflicate, spignel, spigot, spik, spike, spikedace, spike heath, spike heel, spike lavender, spikelet

Other definitions for spike (2 of 2)

spike²

[ spahyk ]

/ spaɪk /

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

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English spik(e), spika, 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. 2022

How to use spike in a sentence

It’s clear that there’s a big spike in unidentified search terms starting September 2nd.
How much does Google’s new search term filtering affect ad spend transparency? Here’s how to find out|Frederick Vallaeys|September 16, 2020|Search Engine Land
In July, Disney World reopened amid a spike in Florida coronavirus cases.
How the coronavirus outbreak is roiling the film and entertainment industries|Alissa Wilkinson|September 11, 2020|Vox
Some other potential coronavirus vaccines now in testing use human adenoviruses to carry the spike protein.
Here’s what pausing the AstraZeneca-Oxford coronavirus vaccine trial really means|Aimee Cunningham|September 9, 2020|Science News
Fryer said he was also struck to find that investigations not sparked by viral incidents also did not produce spikes in violent crime.
What Can Mayors Do When the Police Stop Doing Their Jobs?|by Alec MacGillis|September 3, 2020|ProPublica

This is why in the lab, neural spikes are usually recorded offline and processed using computers, rather than with on-board electronics.
Neuralink’s Wildly Anticipated New Brain Implant: the Hype vs. the Science|Shelly Fan|September 1, 2020|Singularity Hub
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
“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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
He was soon chewing gum as Spike Brennon chewed it, and had his hair clipped in Brennon manner.
The Wrong Twin|Harry Leon Wilson
The only person he knew who had really worked hard to make something of himself was Spike Brennon.
The Wrong Twin|Harry Leon Wilson
He had seen his chance to step in and punish Spike, and he had stepped—and Spike's straight left had been there.
The Wrong Twin|Harry Leon Wilson
"You handed yourself that one, kid," Spike had said, applying raw beef to it after their rubdown.
The Wrong Twin|Harry Leon Wilson
Then he gripped an arm of Spike Brennon, who had stood by him against the wall, "looking 'em over," as Spike had put it.
The Wrong Twin|Harry Leon Wilson

British Dictionary definitions for spike (1 of 2)

spike¹

/ (spaɪk) /

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

British Dictionary definitions for spike (2 of 2)

spike²

/ (spaɪk) /

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

Scientific definitions for spike

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.

spike

Idioms about spike

Origin of spike

OTHER WORDS FROM spike

Words nearby spike

Other definitions for spike (2 of 2)

Origin of spike

Words related to spike

How to use spike in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for spike (1 of 2)

Word Origin for spike

British Dictionary definitions for spike (2 of 2)

Word Origin for spike

Scientific definitions for spike