Definition

1. Noun:
   • A child, especially a young or small one: "tike" can refer to a young person of either sex, often implying youthfulness or small size.
   • A crude, uncouth, or ill-bred person: "tike" can also denote a person who is considered boorish, lacking in culture or refinement.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (meaning: child):
  • The park was full of little tikes running around.
  • He's a cute little tike, always full of energy.
• Noun (meaning: uncouth person):
  • Don't act like such a tike; have some manners at the table.
  • He was dismissed as a country tike with no sophistication.

Advanced Usage

• "Young tike": emphasizes the youth of the child.
  • The young tike followed his mother everywhere.
• Used informally and can be considered slightly old-fashioned or regional, particularly in British English.

Variants and Related Words

• Tyke: This is the more common spelling variant for both meanings.
• Tiddler (British, informal): A synonym specifically for a small child or a very small fish.

Synonyms

• Child: A young human being.
• Kid (informal): A child or young person.
• Boor: A rough and bad-mannered person (synonym for the second meaning).
• Lout: An uncouth or aggressive man or boy (synonym for the second meaning).

Related Phrases

• A cheeky little tike: A phrase describing a mischievous or impudent child.
  • That cheeky little tike took a biscuit without asking.
• A rough tike: A phrase describing an uncultured or coarse person.
  • He was a rough tike from the outskirts, unfamiliar with city ways.

Noun

1. a young person of either sex
   • she writes books for children
   • they're just kids
   • `tiddler' is a British term for youngster
2. a crude uncouth ill-bred person lacking culture or refinement