I. ˈspīk noun
Etymology: Middle English, probably from Old Norse spīk splinter & spīkr spike; akin to Middle Dutch spiker spike — more at spoke
Date: 13th century
1. : a very large nail
2.
a. : one of a row of pointed irons placed (as on the top of a wall) to prevent passage
b.
(1) : one of several metal projections set in the sole and heel of a shoe to improve traction
(2) plural : a pair of shoes having spikes attached to the soles or soles and heels
c. : spindle 1e
3. : something resembling a spike: as
a. : a young mackerel not over six inches (15.2 centimeters) long
b. : an unbranched antler of a young deer
4. plural : spike heel 2
5. : the act or an instance of spiking (as in volleyball)
6.
a. : a pointed element in a graph or tracing
b. : an unusually high and sharply defined maximum (as of amplitude in a wave train)
7. slang : hypodermic needle
8. : a momentary sharp increase and fall in electric potential ; also : action potential
9. : an abrupt sharp increase (as in prices or rates)
• spike·like -ˌlīk adjective
II. verb
( spiked ; spik·ing )
Date: 1624
transitive verb
1. : to fasten or furnish with spikes
2.
a. : to disable (a muzzle-loading cannon) temporarily by driving a spike into the vent
b. : to suppress or block completely
spiked the rumor
3.
a. : to pierce or impale with or on a spike
b. : to reject (as a story) for publication or broadcast for editorial reasons
4.
a. : to add an alcoholic beverage to (a drink)
spiked the punch
b. : to add a foreign substance to
spike the coffee with tranquilizers
c. : to add something highly reactive (as a radioactive tracer) to
d. : to add vitality, zest, or spice to : liven
spiked the speech with humor
spike the broth with peppers
5. : to drive (as a volleyball) sharply downward with a hard blow ; also : to throw down sharply
spiked the ball in the end zone
6. : to undergo a sudden sharp increase in (temperature or fever)
the patient spiked a fever of 103°
intransitive verb
: to increase sharply
battery sales spiked after the storm
• spik·er noun
III. noun
Etymology: Middle English spik, from Latin spica — more at spine
Date: 14th century
1. : an ear of grain
2. : an elongated inflorescence similar to a raceme but having the flowers sessile on the main axis — see inflorescence illustration