spike
/spaik/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A large, stout nail: A heavy, sharp-pointed metal fastener.
- A sharp-pointed projection or object: Any rigid, sharp-pointed implement or feature, such as on a fence, a shoe, or an animal.
- A sharp, sudden increase: A rapid and significant rise in a measured quantity, like voltage, current, or a graph line.
- A type of flower cluster: In botany, an unbranched, elongated inflorescence with stalkless flowers attached directly to the main stem.
- Sports equipment: A sharp point or a set of points attached to the sole of an athletic shoe for better traction.
Verb:
- To pierce or impale with a sharp point: To secure or stab with something pointed.
- To increase sharply and suddenly: To manifest a rapid, often transient, rise.
- To add alcohol or another substance: To secretly mix a substance, especially alcohol, into a drink.
- To form or produce a spike: To send up or develop a sharp-pointed projection or a flower spike.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- Workers hammered a railroad spike into the wooden tie.
- The dinosaur had a row of bony spikes along its back.
- There was a sudden spike in electricity demand during the heatwave.
- Wheat produces a dense spike of grains.
- The runner's shoes had metal spikes for the race.
Verb:
- He spiked the document onto the metal rod.
- Interest rates spiked after the announcement.
- Someone spiked the punch at the party.
- The plant will spike with beautiful purple flowers in the spring.
Advanced Usage
- "To spike a story": To reject or stop a news story from being published.
- The editor spiked the controversial article.
- "Spike someone's guns": To ruin someone's plans or render their efforts useless.
- Their clever defense spiked the guns of the prosecution's argument.
Variants and Related Words
- Spiky (adj): Having many spikes; sharp-pointed.
- The plant has spiky leaves.
- Spiked (adj): Fitted with spikes; (of a drink) having alcohol added.
- She wore spiked heels. / I didn't know the lemonade was spiked.
Synonyms
- Noun: Nail, prong, thorn, surge, peak.
- Verb: Impale, spear, pierce, surge, rise, lace (as in a drink).
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Spike up: To rise sharply.
- Prices spiked up overnight.
- Spike out: (Less common) To extend or project sharply.
- Crystals spiked out from the rock surface.
Related Idioms
- Spike a fever: To develop a high fever very quickly.
- The child spiked a fever of 104 degrees.
- Spike the ball (in American football): To throw the ball forcefully to the ground in celebration after a touchdown.
- The wide receiver spiked the ball after scoring.
Noun
- a large stout nail
- they used spikes to fasten the rails to a railroad tie
- any holding device consisting of a rigid, sharp-pointed object
- the spike pierced the receipts and held them in order
- a long, thin sharp-pointed implement (wood or metal)
- one of the spikes impaled him
- a sharp-pointed projection along the top of a fence or wall (or a dinosaur)
- 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
- a very high narrow heel on women's shoes
- a sharp rise followed by a sharp decline
- the seismograph showed a sharp spike in response to the temblor
- (botany) an indeterminate inflorescence bearing sessile flowers on an unbranched axis
- fruiting spike of a cereal plant especially corn
- sports equipment consisting of a sharp point on the sole of a shoe worn by athletes
- spikes provide greater traction
- a transient variation in voltage or current
Verb
- manifest a sharp increase
- the voltage spiked
- add alcohol to (beverages)
- the punch is spiked!
- bring forth a spike or spikes
- my hyacinths and orchids are spiking now
- secure with spikes
- pierce with a sharp stake or point
- impale a shrimp on a skewer
- stand in the way of