I. spike 1 /spaɪk/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Origin: Probably from Middle Dutch ]
1 . something long and thin with a sharp point, especially a pointed piece of metal
2 . [usually singular] a sudden large increase in the number or rate of something
spike in
a spike in interest rates
3 . spikes [plural] shoes with metal points on the bottom, worn by people who run races, play golf etc
4 . spike heels [plural] a pair of women’s shoes with very high thin heels
II. spike 2 BrE AmE verb
1 . [transitive] to secretly add strong alcohol or a drug to someone’s drink or food
spike something with something
The orange juice had been spiked with gin.
2 . [intransitive] if the number or rate of something spikes, it increases quickly and by a large amount:
New telephone orders have spiked in the last two years.
3 . [transitive] to push a sharp tool or object into something
4 . [transitive] to prevent someone from saying something or printing something in a newspaper:
a clumsy attempt to spike rumours of a cabinet split
5 .
a) spike the ball American English to powerfully throw an American football down on the ground to celebrate a ↑ touchdown
b) [intransitive and transitive] to powerfully hit a ↑ volleyball down over the net
6 . spike sb’s guns British English to spoil an opponent’s plans