Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense, plural spikes, present participle spiking, past tense, past participle spiked
1. countable noun
A spike is a long piece of metal with a sharp point.
...a 15-foot wall topped with iron spikes.
Yellowing receipts had been impaled on a metal spike.
Synonyms: point, stake, spur, pin More Synonyms of spike
2. countable noun
Any long pointed object can be referred to as a spike.
Her hair stood out in spikes.
...a long spike of white flowers. [+ of]
3. countable noun
If there is a spike in the price, volume, or amount of something, the price, volume, or amount of it suddenly increases.
During the war, there was a small spike in interest. [+ in]
4. plural noun [oft a pair ofNOUN]
Spikes are a pair of sports shoes with pointed pieces of metal attached to the soles. They help runners' feet to grip the ground when they are running.
5. verb [usually passive]
If your drink is spiked, someone has added alcohol or drugs to it without telling you.
[informal]
They wondered whether their drinks had been spiked. [beVERB-ed]
...drinks spiked with tranquillisers. [VERB-ed]
6. See also spiked
More Synonyms of spike
spike in British English1
(spaɪk)
noun
1.
a sharp point
2.
any sharp-pointed object, esp one made of metal
3.
a long metal nail
4. physics
a.
a transient variation in voltage or current in an electric circuit
b.
a graphical recording of this, such as one of the peaks on an electroencephalogram
5. informal
a sudden increase
6. (plural)
shoes with metal projections on the sole and heel for greater traction, as used by athletes
7.
the straight unbranched antler of a young deer
8. British slang another word for dosshouse
verb(mainly tr)
9.
to secure or supply with or as with spikes
10.
to render ineffective or block the intentions of; thwart
11.
to impale on a spike
12.
to add alcohol to (a drink)
13. journalism
to reject (a news story)
14. volleyball
to hit (a ball) sharply downwards with an overarm motion from the front of one's own court into the opposing court
15.
(formerly) to render (a cannon) ineffective by blocking its vent with a spike
16. (intransitive) informal
to increase suddenly
17. spike someone's guns
Word origin
C13 spyk; related to Old English spīcing nail, Old Norse spīk splinter, Middle Low German spīker spike, Norwegian spīk spoke2, Latin spīca sharp point; see spike2
spike in British English2
(spaɪk)
noun botany
1.
an inflorescence consisting of a raceme of sessile flowers, as in the gladiolus and sedges
2.
an ear of wheat, barley, or any other grass that has sessile spikelets
Word origin
C14: from Latin spīca ear of corn
spike in American English1
(spaɪk)
noun
1.
a long, heavy nail
2.
a sharp-pointed part or projection, usually slender and of metal, as along the top of an iron fence, etc.
3.
any long, slender, pointed object, as the unbranched antler of a young deer
4.
a.
any of a number of sharp or pointed metal projections on the soles, and often onthe heels, of shoes used for baseball, golf, track, etc. to prevent slipping
b. [pl.]
a pair of such shoes
c.
a high, very thin heel on a woman's shoe
: also spike heel
5. US
a young mackerel not more than six inches long
6.
a.
a transient wave or variation in potential difference that propagates along a nerve axon
b.
a graphic recording or tracing of this, as any of the jagged peaks in an electroencephalogram
7.
a sudden, rapid rise, as in blood pressure
verb transitiveWord forms: spiked or ˈspiking
8.
to fasten or fit with or as with a spike or spikes
9.
to mark, pierce, cut, etc. with a spike or spikes, or impale on a spike
10.
to make (a cannon) unusable by driving a spike into the touchhole
11.
to cause to rise suddenly and rapidly
12.
to thwart, frustrate, or block (a scheme, etc.)
13. US, Slang
to add a substance, as a narcotic or other drug, to (a drink, food, etc.); specif., to add alcoholic liquor to (a drink)
14. Baseball
to injure with the spikes on one's shoes
15. American Football
to throw (the football) to the ground, esp. in celebration of scoring a touchdown
16. US, Volleyball
to leap into the air while close to the net and smash (the ball) into the opponents' court
verb intransitive
17.
to rise suddenly and rapidly
Idioms:
hang up one's spikes
Word origin
ME < ON spīkr, a nail, spike, or < MDu & MLowG spīker, both ult. < IE base *(s)p(h)ei-, sharp, pointed splinter > spit2, spoke1, L spica, ear of grain, spina, spine
spike in American English2
(spaɪk)
noun
1.
an ear of grain
2.
an unbranched flower cluster with stalkless flowers attached directly to the central axis
Derived forms
spiked
adjective
Word origin
ME spik < L spica: see spike1
More idioms containing
spike
spike someone's guns
Word lists with
spike
parts of plants
In other languages
spike
British English: spike NOUN
A spike is a long piece of metal with a sharp point.
...a 15-foot wall topped with iron spikes.
American English: spike
Brazilian Portuguese: ponta
Chinese: 长金属锥
European Spanish: punta
French: pointe
German: Spitze
Italian: punta
Japanese: 大くぎ
Korean: 대못
European Portuguese: ponta
Latin American Spanish: punta
All related terms of 'spike'
spike heel
a very high heel on a woman's shoe , tapering to a very narrow tip
spike heels
Spike heels are women's shoes that have high, very narrow heels.
spike-rush
any perennial plant of the temperate cyperaceous genus Eleocharis, occurring esp by ponds , and having underground stems, narrow leaves, and small flowers
spike lavender
a Mediterranean lavender plant, Lavandula latifolia, having pale purple flowers and yielding an oil used in paints
marlin(e) spike
a pointed metal tool used as a fid , spike , and for various other purposes
spike-tooth harrow
a harrow with sharp teeth
spike someone's guns
to prevent someone from carrying out their plans , or to do something to make their actions ineffective
stiletto
Stilettos are women's shoes that have high, very narrow heels.
stiletto heel
a small dagger with a slender tapered blade
Chinese translation of 'spike'
spike
(spaɪk)
n(c)
(of metal) 尖钉(釘) (jiāndīng) (个(個), gè)
(fig) 尖状(狀)物 (jiānzhuàngwù)
vt
(inf)[drink]搀(攙)加 (chānjiā)
Derived Forms
spikesn pl (Sport, = shoes) 钉(釘)鞋 (dīngxié)
1 (noun)
Definition
a long metal nail
a 15-foot wall topped with iron spikes
Synonyms
point
the point of a knife
stake
Drive in a stake before planting the tree.
spur
An X-ray might show a small spur of bone at the site of your pain.
pin
Use pins to keep the material in place as you work.
nail
A mirror hung on a nail above the washstand.
spine
barb
Apply gentle pressure on the barb with the point of the pliers.
tine
prong
Mark the loaf with the prongs of a fork.
2 (noun)
Definition
anything long and pointed
Its skin is covered with spikes.
Synonyms
prickle
an erect stem covered at the base with prickles
spine
Carry a pair of thick gloves to protect you from hedgehog spines.
bristle
It has a short stumpy tail covered with bristles.
thorn
Roses will always have thorns, but with care they can be avoided.
1 (verb)
Definition
to add alcohol to (a drink)
drinks spiked with tranquillizers
Synonyms
drug
He had drugged the drink with sleeping pills.
lace
The prison guards' food was laced with sleeping pills.
dope
The horse had been doped with sedatives.
cut
contaminate
The fishing waters have been contaminated with toxic wastes.
adulterate
The food had been adulterated to increase its weight.
2 (verb)
Definition
to drive a spike or spikes into
My foot kept getting spiked by the runners in front.
Synonyms
impale
I had to go to hospital after impaling my foot on a railing spike.
spit
spear
Spearing fish was a traditional way to hunt.
stick
They stuck a needle in my back.
The knife stuck in his chest.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adulterate
Definition
to spoil something by adding inferior material
The food had been adulterated to increase its weight.
Synonyms
debase,
thin,
weaken,
corrupt,
deteriorate,
mix with,
contaminate,
devalue,
water down,
depreciate,
attenuate,
vitiate,
bastardize,
make impure
in the sense of barb
Definition
a point facing in the opposite direction to the main point of a fish-hook, harpoon, etc.
Apply gentle pressure on the barb with the point of the pliers.
Synonyms
point,
spur,
needle,
spike,
spine,
thorn,
bristle,
quill,
prickle,
tine,
prong
in the sense of bristle
Definition
something resembling these hairs
It has a short stumpy tail covered with bristles.
Synonyms
point,
spur,
needle,
spike,
spine,
thorn,
barb,
prickle
Synonyms of 'spike'
spike
Explore 'spike' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of contaminate
Definition
to make impure
The fishing waters have been contaminated with toxic wastes.
Synonyms
pollute,
infect,
stain,
corrupt,
taint,
sully,
defile,
adulterate,
befoul,
soil
in the sense of dope
Definition
to administer a drug to
The horse had been doped with sedatives.
Synonyms
drug,
doctor,
knock out,
inject,
sedate,
stupefy,
anaesthetize,
narcotize
in the sense of lace
Definition
to add a small amount of alcohol, a drug, or poison to (food or drink)
The prison guards' food was laced with sleeping pills.
Synonyms
mix,
drug,
doctor,
add to,
spike,
contaminate,
fortify,
adulterate
in the sense of nail
Definition
a piece of metal with a point at one end and a head at the other, hit with a hammer to join two objects together
A mirror hung on a nail above the washstand.
Synonyms
tack,
spike,
rivet,
sprig,
hobnail,
brad,
clout nail
in the sense of pin
Definition
a short stiff straight piece of wire with a pointed end and a rounded head: used mainly for fastening
Use pins to keep the material in place as you work.
Synonyms
tack,
nail,
needle,
safety pin
in the sense of prong
Definition
a long pointed projection from an instrument or tool such as a fork
Mark the loaf with the prongs of a fork.
Synonyms
point,
tip,
spike,
tine
in the sense of spear
Definition
a weapon consisting of a long pole with a sharp point
Spearing fish was a traditional way to hunt.
Synonyms
gore,
pierce,
lance,
bayonet,
impale
in the sense of spine
Definition
a sharp point on the body of an animal or on a plant
Carry a pair of thick gloves to protect you from hedgehog spines.
Synonyms
barb,
spur,
needle,
spike,
ray,
quill,
rachis
in the sense of spur
Definition
a sharp horny part sticking out from a cock's leg
An X-ray might show a small spur of bone at the site of your pain.
Synonyms
projection,
spike,
protuberance,
protrusion
in the sense of stake
Definition
a stick or metal bar driven into the ground as part of a fence or as a support or marker
Drive in a stake before planting the tree.
Synonyms
pole,
post,
spike,
stick,
pale,
paling,
picket,
stave,
palisade
Additional synonyms
in the sense of stick
Definition
to push (a pointed object) or (of a pointed object) to be pushed into another object
They stuck a needle in my back.The knife stuck in his chest.
Synonyms
poke,
dig,
stab,
insert,
thrust,
pierce,
penetrate,
spear,
prod,
jab,
transfix
in the sense of thorn
Definition
a sharp pointed woody projection from a stem or leaf
Roses will always have thorns, but with care they can be avoided.