spike¹ /spīk/

1. A hard thin pointed object
2. A large nail
3. A sharp metal projection, eg one of those forming a row along the top of a railing, etc
4. A sharp-pointed metal rod set upright on a base, on which to impale documents requiring attention, etc
5. (in pl) spiked shoes, worn, esp by athletes, to prevent slipping
6. A bayonet (milit sl)
7. A hypodermic needle (slang)
8. A workhouse or its casual ward (old slang)
9. A dosshouse (Brit sl)
10. A short period of increased activity, eg a sudden surge of power on an electronic circuit

1. To fasten, set, pierce or damage with a spike or spikes
2. To make (eg a gun) useless, orig by driving a spike into the vent
3. To frustrate, put a stop to
4. To make (a drink) stronger by adding spirits or other alcohol (informal)
5. To contaminate (eg food) by the addition of a harmful substance (informal)
6. To reject (a news article, etc) (press)
7. To hit (a volleyball) so that it flies forcefully downwards into the opposing team's court
8. To inject with a drug (informal)

1. To form a spike or peak
2. To inject oneself with a drug (informal)

spiked adjective

spīkˈily adverb

spīkˈiness noun

spīkˈy adjective

1. Having or provided with spikes
2. Having a sharp point
3. Irritable, acerbic
4. Characterized by irritable, difficult or jarring disagreements or incidents

spikeˈfish noun (US)

A kind of sailfish

spike heel noun

A very narrow metal heel on a woman's shoe

spikeˈ-nail noun

A large small-headed nail

spike² /spīk/

1. An ear of corn
2. An inflorescence in which sessile flowers or spikelets are arranged on a long axis (botany)
3. A kind of lavender (spike lavender)

To develop a spike

spikeˈlet noun

(in grasses, etc) a small crowded spike, itself forming part of a greater inflorescence

spike grass noun

Uniola or other American grass with conspicuous spikelets

spike oil noun

The oil of spike lavender

spikeˈ-rush noun

Any of several sedges of the genus Eleocharis, closely related to the true sedges, with stiff tufted stems and solitary spikelets

spike³ /spīk/

A very High-Church Anglican, an Anglo-Catholic

spīkˈery noun

spīkˈy adjective

Very High-Church

• amiantus
• amiantuses
• amicabilities
• amicability
• amicable
• amicableness
• amicablenesses
• amicable numbers
• amicably
• amice
• amices
• amici
• amici curiae
• Amicus
• amicus curiae
• amid
• amide
• ami de cour
• amides
• amidmost
• Amidol
• amidships
• amidst
• ami du peuple
• amie