spike Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a transient variation in voltage or current
  2. noun sports equipment consisting of a sharp point on the sole of a shoe worn by athletes
    • spikes provide greater traction
  3. noun fruiting spike of a cereal plant especially corn
    capitulum; ear.
  4. noun (botany) an indeterminate inflorescence bearing sessile flowers on an unbranched axis
  5. noun a sharp rise followed by a sharp decline
    • the seismograph showed a sharp spike in response to the temblor
  6. noun a very high narrow heel on women's shoes
    stiletto heel; spike heel.
  7. noun each of the sharp points on the soles of athletic shoes to prevent slipping (or the shoes themselves)
    • the second baseman sharpened his spikes before every game
    • golfers' spikes damage the putting greens
  8. noun a sharp-pointed projection along the top of a fence or wall (or a dinosaur)
  9. noun a long, thin sharp-pointed implement (wood or metal)
    • one of the spikes impaled him
  10. noun any holding device consisting of a rigid, sharp-pointed object
    spindle.
    • the spike pierced the receipts and held them in order
  11. noun a large stout nail
    • they used spikes to fasten the rails to a railroad tie
  12. verb stand in the way of
  13. verb pierce with a sharp stake or point
    impale; empale; transfix.
    • impale a shrimp on a skewer
  14. verb secure with spikes
  15. verb bring forth a spike or spikes
    spike out.
    • my hyacinths and orchids are spiking now
  16. verb add alcohol to (beverages)
    fortify; lace.
    • the punch is spiked!
  17. verb manifest a sharp increase
    • the voltage spiked

WordNet

Spike noun
Etymology
Akin to LG. spiker, spieker, a large nail, D. spijker, Sw. spik, Dan. spiger, Icel. spik; all perhaps from L. spica a point, an ear of grain; but in the sense of nail more likely akin to E. spoke of a wheel. Cf. Spine.
Definitions
  1. A sort of very large nail; also, a piece of pointed iron set with points upward or outward.
  2. Anything resembling such a nail in shape.
    He wears on his head the corona radiata . . . ; the spikes that shoot out represent the rays of the sun. Addison.
  3. An ear of corn or grain.
  4. (Bot.) A kind of flower cluster in which sessile flowers are arranged on an unbranched elongated axis.
Spike transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Spiked ; present participle & verbal noun Spiking
Definitions
  1. To fasten with spikes, or long, large nails; as, to spike down planks.
  2. To set or furnish with spikes.
  3. To fix on a spike. R. Young.
  4. To stop the vent of (a gun or cannon) by driving a spike nail, or the like into it. (Sport) To throw violently to the ground, so that it bounces. Sometimes done by football players after scoring a goal, as a victory celebration.
Spike noun
Etymology
Cf. G. spieke, L. spica an ear of grain. See Spikenard.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) Spike lavender. See Lavender.

Webster 1913