/ spaɪk; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C ] a thin object with a sharp point, especially a pointed piece of metal, wood, etc. :
a row of iron spikes on a wall
Her hair stood up in spikes.
—see also spike heel
2.
[ C , usually pl. ] a metal point attached to the sole of a sports shoe to prevent you from slipping while running
—compare cleat
3.
spikes [ pl. ] shoes fitted with these metal spikes, used for running :
a pair of spikes
4.
[ C ] a long pointed group of flowers that grow together on a single stem
5.
[ C , usually sing. ] ( informal , especially NAmE ) a sudden large increase in sth :
a spike in oil prices
■ verb
1.
[ vn ] to push a sharp piece of metal, wood, etc. into sb/sth; to injure sth on a sharp point
SYN stab
2.
spike sth (with sth) to add alcohol, poison or a drug to sb's drink or food without them knowing :
He gave her a drink spiked with tranquillizers.
( figurative )
Her words were spiked with malice.
3.
[ vn ] to reject sth that a person has written or said; to prevent sth from happening or being made public :
The article was spiked for fear of legal action against the newspaper.
4.
[ v ] ( especially NAmE ) to rise quickly and reach a high value :
The US dollar spiked to a three-month high.
•
IDIOMS
- spike sb's guns
••
WORD ORIGIN
noun senses 1 to 3 and noun sense 5 verb Middle English : perhaps from Middle Low German , Middle Dutch spiker , related to spoke . The verb dates from the early 17th cent.
noun sense 4 late Middle English (denoting an ear of corn): from Latin spica spike, ear of corn ; related to spina spine.