pike

noun (1)

\ ˈpīk

How to pronounce pike (audio)

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Definition of pike

(Entry 1 of 9)

1 : pikestaff sense 1

2 : a sharp point or spike also : the tip of a spear

pike

noun (2)

Definition of pike (Entry 2 of 9)

dialectal, England

: a mountain or hill having a peaked summit —used especially in place names

pike

noun (3)

plural pike or pikes

Definition of pike (Entry 3 of 9)

1a : a large elongate long-snouted freshwater bony fish (Esox lucius) valued for food and sport and widely distributed in cooler parts of the northern hemisphere

— called also northern, northern pike

b : any of various fishes (family Esocidae) related to the pike: such as

(1) : muskellunge

(2) : pickerel

2 : any of various fishes resembling the pike in appearance or habits

pike

noun (4)

Definition of pike (Entry 4 of 9)

: a heavy spear with a very long shaft used by infantry especially in Europe from the Middle Ages to the 18th century

pike

verb (1)

piked; piking

Definition of pike (Entry 5 of 9)

transitive verb

: to pierce, kill, or wound with a pike

pike

verb (2)

piked; piking

Definition of pike (Entry 6 of 9)

intransitive verb

1 : to leave abruptly get lonely and sore, and pike out— Sinclair Lewis

2 : to make one's way pike along

pike

noun (5)

Definition of pike (Entry 7 of 9)

1 : turnpike

2 : a railroad or railroad line or system

down the pike

1 : in the course of events the greatest boxer to come down the pike in years

2 : in the future today's advances only hint at what's down the pike

pike

noun (6)

Definition of pike (Entry 8 of 9)

: a body position (as in diving) in which the hips are bent, the knees are straight, and the hands touch the toes or clasp the legs behind or just above the knees

Pike

biographical name

\ ˈpīk

How to pronounce Pike (audio)

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Definition of Pike (Entry 9 of 9)

Zebulon Montgomery 1779–1813 American general and explorer

First Known Use of pike

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (4)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

1787, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

circa 1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (5)

1812, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (6)

1928, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for pike

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English pīc pickax

Noun (2)

Middle English, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian dialect pīk pointed mountain

Noun (3)

Middle English, from pike entry 1

Noun (4)

Middle French pique, from piquer to prick, from Vulgar Latin *piccare, perhaps from Latin picus woodpecker — more at pie

Verb (2)

Middle English pyken (reflexive)

Noun (6)

perhaps from pike entry 3

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Time Traveler for pike

The first known use of pike was in the 13th century

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More Definitions for pike

pike

noun

\ ˈpīk

\

plural pike or pikes

Kids Definition of pike

(Entry 1 of 3)

: a long slender freshwater fish with a large mouth

pike

noun

Kids Definition of pike (Entry 2 of 3)

: a long wooden pole with a steel point once used as a weapon by soldiers

pike

noun

Kids Definition of pike (Entry 3 of 3)

: turnpike, road

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showing great care, attention, and effort

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