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1. Dictionary

   Spike

   /spīk/

   

   noun

   • 1. a thin, pointed piece of metal, wood, or another rigid material. Similar prongbarbpointskewerstakespitprojectiontinenailpinspurpitontechnical:fidhistorical:pricketthornspinepricklebristletechnical:spicule
   • ▪ a large stout nail, especially one used to fasten a rail to a railroad tie.
   • ▪ each of several metal points set into the sole of an athletic shoe to prevent slipping.
   • ▪ a pair of athletic shoes with metal points set into the sole.
   • ▪ short for spike heel British
   • ▪ a hypodermic needle. informal
   • 2. a sharp increase in the magnitude or concentration of something: "the oil price spike"
   • ▪ a pulse of very short duration in which a rapid increase in voltage is followed by a rapid decrease.

   verb

   • 1. impale on or pierce with a sharp point: "she spiked another oyster" Similar impalespearskewerpiercepenetrateperforatestabrun throughstickspittransfixrare:transpierce
   • ▪ injure (a player) with the spikes on one's shoes.
   • ▪ (of a newspaper editor) reject (a story) by or as if by filing it on a spike: "the editors deemed the article in bad taste and spiked it"
   • ▪ stop the progress of (a plan or undertaking); put an end to: "he doubted they would spike the entire effort over this one negotiation" Similar put a stop toput an end toput the lid onscupperscotchderailfrustratefoilthwartstymiebalkhinderobstructinformal:put paid toput the kibosh onclobberdish
   • ▪ render (a gun) useless by plugging up the vent with a spike. historical
   • 2. form into or cover with sharp points: "his hair was matted and spiked with blood"
   • ▪ take on a sharp, pointed shape: "lightning spiked across the sky"
   • ▪ increase and then decrease sharply; reach a peak: "oil prices would spike and fall again"
   • 3. add alcohol or a drug to contaminate (drink or food) surreptitiously: informal "she bought me an orange juice and spiked it with vodka" Similar adulteratecontaminatedruginformal:laceslip a Mickey Finn intodopedoctorcut
   • ▪ add sharp or pungent flavoring to (food or drink): "spike the liquid with lime or lemon juice"
   • ▪ enrich (a nuclear reactor or its fuel) with a particular isotope: "the plutonium mixture could be spiked with caesium-137"
   • 4. (in volleyball) hit (the ball) forcefully from a position near the net so that it moves downward into the opposite court.
   • ▪ fling (the ball) forcefully to the ground, typically in celebration of a touchdown.

   Word Origin Middle English: perhaps from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch spiker, related to spoke1. The verb dates from the early 17th century.

   Scrabble Points: 11

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2. www.dictionary.com › browse › spikeSPIKE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › spike

   • Cached

   Spike definition: 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.. See examples of SPIKE used in a sentence.

3. www.thefreedictionary.com › spikeSpike - definition of spike by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › spike

   • Cached

   spike 1. (spīk) n. 1. a. A long, thick, sharp-pointed piece of wood or metal. b. A heavy nail. 2. A spikelike part or projection, as: a. A sharp-pointed projection along the top of a fence or wall. b. A thin, sharp-pointed vertical rod for impaling papers; a spindle. c. An elongate unbranched inflorescence with sessile flowers. d. A thorn or spine.

4. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › spikeSpike - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › spike

   A spike is a sharp point, often made of metal or wood, but not always. Hedgehogs have long skinny spikes that keep them from being eaten by predators.

5. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishSPIKE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   2 days ago · 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 .

6. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionarySPIKE | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   SPIKE meaning: 1. a long, thin piece of metal, wood, etc with a sharp point at one end 2. covered with spikes or….

7. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishspike noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   Definition of spike noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

8. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › spikespike | meaning of spike in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary...

   www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › spike

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   spike meaning, definition, what is spike: something long and thin with a sharp poi...: Learn more.