spike

English

/spaɪk/

noun
Definitions
  • A sort of very large nail.
  • A piece of pointed metal etc. set with points upward or outward.
  • Anything resembling such a nail in shape.
  • An ear of corn or grain.
  • (botany) A kind of inflorescence in which sessile flowers are arranged on an unbranched elongated axis.
  • (informal) A running shoe with spikes in the sole to provide grip.
  • A sharp peak in a graph.
  • A surge in power or in the price of a commodity etc.
  • The long, narrow part of a high-heeled shoe that elevates the heel.
  • A long nail for storing papers by skewering them; (by extension) the metaphorical place where rejected newspaper articles are sent.
  • (volleyball) An attack from, usually, above the height of the net performed with the intent to send the ball straight to the floor of the opponent or off the hands of the opposing block.
  • (zoology) An adolescent male deer.
  • (slang) The casual ward of a workhouse.
  • spike Spike lavender.
  • (music) .

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English spike derived from Old Norse spík (spike, sprig) derived from Proto-Germanic *spīkō (splinter, point, stick) derived from Proto-Indo-European *spey- (sharp point, extend, expand, stretch, thorn-like, be pointed, stick, pointed stick, sharp, spike, prickle, sharp stick), *spey- (sharp point, extend, expand, stretch, thorn-like, be pointed, stick, pointed stick, sharp, spike, prickle, sharp stick).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*spey-

Gloss

sharp point, extend, expand, stretch, thorn-like, be pointed, stick, pointed stick, sharp, spike, prickle, sharp stick

Concept
Semantic Field

Basic actions and technology

Ontological Category

Action/Process

Kanji

鋭

Emoji

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms