~ 1
■ noun
1》 a thin pointed piece of metal or another rigid material.
↘a large stout nail, especially one used to fasten a rail to a railway sleeper.
↘each of several metal points set into the sole of a sports shoe to prevent slipping.
↘( ~s ) a pair of sports shoes with ~s.
↘ chiefly Brit. a pointed metal rod standing on a base and used for filing bills or journalistic material rejected for publication.
2》 a sharp increase in magnitude or intensity.
↘ Electronics a pulse of very short duration.
3》 Brit. informal the casual ward of a hostel offering temporary accommodation for the homeless.
■ verb
1》 impale on or pierce with a ~.
↘ historical render (a gun) useless by plugging up the vent with a ~.
2》 form into or cover with sharp points.
3》 (of a newspaper editor) reject (a story) by or as if by filing it on a ~.
↘thwart.
4》 informal lace (drink or food) with alcohol or a drug surreptitiously.
↘ Physics & Chemistry enrich with a particular isotope.
5》 increase and then decrease sharply.
6》 (in volleyball) hit (the ball) forcefully from a position near the net so that it moves downward into the opposite court.
↘ American Football fling (the ball) forcefully to the ground, typically in celebration of a touchdown or victory.
Phrases
~ someone's guns Brit. thwart someone's plans.
Origin
ME: perh. from Mid. Low Ger., MDu. ~r , related to spoke 1 .
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~ 2
■ noun Botany a flower cluster formed of many flower heads attached directly to a long stem.
Origin
ME (denoting an ear of corn): from L. spica (see spica ).