spike

I

[[t]spaɪk[/t]]

n. v. spiked, spik•ing

1) bui rai a naillike fastener, 3 to 12 in. (7.6 to 30.5 cm) long and proportionately thicker than a common nail, for fastening together heavy timbers or railroad track

2) something resembling such a nail, as a sharp-pointed metal projection on a weapon

3) cvb an abrupt increase or rise:

a spike of electrical current[/ex]

4) clo one of a number of rectangular or naillike metal projections on the heel and sole of a shoe for improving traction, as of a baseball player or a runner

5) clo spikes

a) clo shoes having metal projections on the heel and sole

b) clo shoes having spike heels

6) sta a pointed portion of a continuous curve or graph, usu. rising above the adjacent portion

7) zool. the unbranched antler of a young deer

8) ich a young mackerel

9) spo Volleyball. an act or instance of spiking the ball

10) cvb sts Slang. a hypodermic needle

11) bui to fasten or secure with a spike or spikes

12) to provide or set with a spike or spikes

13) to pierce with or impale on a spike

14) to set or stud with something suggesting spikes

15) spo to injure (another player or a competitor) with the spikes of one's shoe, as in baseball

16) spo Volleyball. to hit (a ball in the air) from a position close to the net sharply downward into the opponent's court

17) spo Football. to throw (the ball) to the ground, esp. in celebration of a touchdown

18) mil to render (a muzzle-loading gun) useless by driving a spike into the breech

19) to suppress or thwart:

to spike a rumor[/ex]

20) cvb inf Informal.

a) to add alcoholic liquor to (a drink)

b) to add (a chemical, poison, or other substance) to

21) cvb to rise or increase sharply (often fol. by up):

Interest rates have spiked up[/ex]

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Etymology: 1300–50 < ON spīkr nail; akin to MLG spīker nail spik′er, n. II

spike

[[t]spaɪk[/t]] n.

1) an ear, as of wheat or other grain

2) bot an elongated flower cluster in which the flowers are arranged along an unbranched stalk

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Etymology: 1350–1400; < L spīca