spike

¹spike

noun \ˈspīk\

Definition of SPIKE

1

: a very large nail

2

a : one of a row of pointed irons placed (as on the top of a wall) to prevent passage

b (1) : one of several metal projections set in the sole and heel of a shoe to improve traction (2) plural : a pair of shoes having spikes attached to the soles or soles and heels

c : spindle 1e

3

: something resembling a spike: as

a : a young mackerel not over six inches (15.2 centimeters) long

b : an unbranched antler of a young deer

4

plural : spike heel 2

5

: the act or an instance of spiking (as in volleyball)

6

a : a pointed element in a graph or tracing

b : an unusually high and sharply defined maximum (as of amplitude in a wave train)

7

slang : hypodermic needle

8

: a momentary sharp increase and fall in electric potential; also : action potential

9

: an abrupt sharp increase (as in prices or rates)

— spike·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

Origin of SPIKE

Middle English, probably from Old Norse spīk splinter & spīkr spike; akin to Middle Dutch spiker spike — more at spoke

First Known Use: 13th century

Rhymes with SPIKE

bike, dike, fyke, haik, hike, like, mike, pike, psych, shrike, sike, strike, trike, tyke

²spike

verb

spikedspik·ing

Definition of SPIKE

transitive verb

1

: to fasten or furnish with spikes

2

a : to disable (a muzzle-loading cannon) temporarily by driving a spike into the vent

b : to suppress or block completely <spiked the rumor>

3

a : to pierce or impale with or on a spike

b : to reject (as a story) for publication or broadcast for editorial reasons

4

a : to add an alcoholic beverage to (a drink) <spiked the punch>

b : to add a foreign substance to <spike the coffee with tranquilizers>

c : to add something highly reactive (as a radioactive tracer) to

d : to add vitality, zest, or spice to : liven <spiked the speech with humor> <spike the broth with peppers>

5

: to drive (as a volleyball) sharply downward with a hard blow; also : to throw down sharply <spiked the ball in the end zone>

6

: to undergo a sudden sharp increase in (temperature or fever) <the patient spiked a fever of 103°>

intransitive verb

: to increase sharply <battery sales spiked after the storm>

— spik·er noun

Examples of SPIKE

1. Someone spiked the punch at the party.
2. The medication caused his blood pressure to spike.
3. She spiked the ball and scored the winning point.
4. After he scored a touchdown he spiked the ball in the end zone.

First Known Use of SPIKE

1624

Related to SPIKE

Synonyms

gore, harpoon, jab, lance, peck, pick, pierce, pink, puncture, run through, skewer, spear, impale, spit, stab, stick, transfix, transpierce

Antonyms

damp, dampen, deaden, dull, kill

Related Words

spindle; perforate, riddle; bayonet, dirk, gimlet, pike, poniard, prong, quill; pinprick, poke, prick, punch, thrust; cut, knife, slice

Near Antonyms

burn out, debilitate, do in, drain, enervate, enfeeble, exhaust, fag, fatigue, harass, kayo, knock out, sap, tucker (out), undermine, wash out, weaken, wear, wear out, weary; check, curb, inhibit, jade, quell, quench, repress, restrain, slow, still, stunt, suppress; daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit

Other Broadcasting Terms

continuity, dissolve, fade, feed, remote, residual, wipe

³spike

noun

Definition of SPIKE

1

: an ear of grain

2

: an elongated inflorescence similar to a raceme but having the flowers sessile on the main axis — see inflorescence illustration

Origin of SPIKE

Middle English spik, from Latin spica — more at spine

First Known Use: 14th century