dike

noun (1)

\ ˈdīk

Definition of dike

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 civil engineering : an artificial watercourse : ditch

2 civil engineering

a : a bank (see bank entry 1 sense 1) usually of earth constructed to control or confine water : levee

b : a barrier preventing passage especially of something undesirable

3a civil engineering : a raised causeway

b geology : a tabular body of igneous rock that has been injected while molten into a fissure

dike

verb

diked; diking

Definition of dike (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

civil engineering

1 : to surround or protect with a dike (see dike entry 1)

2 : to drain by a dike

dike

noun (2)

less common spelling of dyke

usually offensive

: lesbian

Other Words from dike Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about dike

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Synonyms for dike

Synonyms: Noun (1)

dam, embankment, head, levee

Examples of dike in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The southern banks along Svensen Slough, a side channel of the Columbia River, have transformed over time from historic spruce swamp into fields diked off by European settlers for farming. — Edward Stratton, The Christian Science Monitor, "Farmers reshape land along Columbia River to bring salmon back," 2 Apr. 2018 Aerial photos show portions of the land – diked and drained for agriculture by the 1930s and cut in half by US Highway 30 by the 1970s – slowly returning to wetlands as levees broke down and breached. — Edward Stratton, The Christian Science Monitor, "Farmers reshape land along Columbia River to bring salmon back," 2 Apr. 2018 The tank area is believed to be diked and lined to contain spilled fuel. — Zaz Hollander, Anchorage Daily News, "Human error blamed for 22,000-gallon spill at Savoonga tank farm," 15 Mar. 2018 That was before humans drained and diked estuaries to build cities, grow crops, and make salt. — National Geographic, "How the Bay Area Is Restoring Nature's Delicate Balance," 13 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dike.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.