[
UK
/spˈaɪk/
]
[ US /ˈspaɪk/ ]
[ US /ˈspaɪk/ ]
NOUN
- a sharp-pointed projection along the top of a fence or wall (or a dinosaur)
-
a long, thin sharp-pointed implement (wood or metal)
one of the spikes impaled him -
a large stout nail
they used spikes to fasten the rails to a railroad tie -
a sharp rise followed by a sharp decline
the seismograph showed a sharp spike in response to the temblor - (botany) an indeterminate inflorescence bearing sessile flowers on an unbranched axis
-
any holding device consisting of a rigid, sharp-pointed object
the spike pierced the receipts and held them in order - fruiting spike of a cereal plant especially corn
- a very high narrow heel on women's shoes
- a transient variation in voltage or current
-
sports equipment consisting of a sharp point on the sole of a shoe worn by athletes
spikes provide greater traction -
each of the sharp points on the soles of athletic shoes to prevent slipping (or the shoes themselves)
golfers' spikes damage the putting greens
the second baseman sharpened his spikes before every game
VERB
-
add alcohol to (beverages)
the punch is spiked! -
manifest a sharp increase
the voltage spiked - secure with spikes
-
bring forth a spike or spikes
my hyacinths and orchids are spiking now - stand in the way of
-
pierce with a sharp stake or point
impale a shrimp on a skewer
How To Use spike In A Sentence
- Season of the Inundation: Sweet, black silt mingled with holy myrrh, melilot, hyssop, spikenard, balsam, cedar, and a hint of melting snow from the Abyssinian hills. Thor's Day
- Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) would make a decision on whether to boost output to calm minister said on Tuesday he sees no push by OPEC members to raise oil output to counter a spike in prices to 18-month highs. WN.com - Business News
- Other situations affecting power quality are transients or spikes, surges or over-voltages, noise and sags or brownouts.
- Painter and decorator Geoffrey Jenks was so shocked when he failed a roadside breath test, he felt his Cokes must have been spiked, Kennet magistrates in Devizes heard on Tuesday.
- Everything from tobacco sacks and cigarette papers to a spare cinch and a rope, from a change of clothes to a picture of his family or his girl, from old letters and reading material to a marlinespike, was kept in it. This Calder Range
- A tall, impenetrable wall with barbed wire and sharp metal spikes on top surrounded the entire complex.
- The power has gone out and even when it's on there appear to be beefy dips and surges on the line - so large in fact that one particular voltage spike took out my TV in an impressive cloud of smoke.
- What makes these native arums so attractive are the thick spikes of fruits that follow the large white papery inflorescences.
- He had spoken of being inspired by Sheffield's John and Sheila Sherwood winning medals in the Mexico Olympics, of joining their club and of being given his first pair of spikes by Sheila.
- He thought the highs and lows of the business cycle would be far more extreme and short-lived than in the past, with sharp spikes up and down.
