DYKE


Meaning of DYKE in English

~ 1

(also dike )

■ noun

1》 an embankment built to prevent flooding from the sea.

↘an earthwork serving as a boundary or defence: Offa's Dyke.

2》 a ditch or watercourse.

3》 Geology an intrusion of igneous rock cutting across existing strata. Compare with sill .

■ verb [often as adjective ~d ] provide (land) with a ~ to prevent flooding.

Origin

ME: from ON dík , related to ditch .

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~ 2

(also dike )

■ noun informal a lesbian.

Derivatives

~y adjective ( dykier , dykiest ).

Origin

1940s (earlier as bull~ ): of unknown origin.

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.