Spike Meaning
/spaɪk/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA sort of very large nail.
nounA piece of pointed metal etc. set with points upward or outward.
Sentence Examples
Mike named his dog Spike.
I saw her spike his drink.
The plant sends out a spike on which the flowers grow.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The track shoe had a single metal ____ that provided extra grip.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He drove a large metal ____ into the ground to anchor the corner of the heavy canvas tent.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English spike, spyke, spik, from Old Norse spík (“spike, sprig”), from Proto-Germanic *spīkō (“stick, splinter, point”), from Proto-Indo-European *spey- (“to be pointed; sharp point, stick”). Cognate with Icelandic spík (“spike”), Swedish spik (“spike, nail”), Dutch spijker (“nail”), Old English spīcing (“spike”), and Latin spīca (“ear of corn”), which may have influenced some senses.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"He vvears on his head the Corona Radiata, vvhich at that time vvas another type of his Divinity. The ſpikes that ſhoot out from the crovvn vvere to repreſent the rays of the Sun."
— a. 1720 (date written), [Joseph Addison], “Dialogue II”, in Dialogues upon the Usefulness of Ancient Medals. […], [London]: [s.n.], published 1726, →OCLC, page 111:
"If the border were shut down, consumers would most likely see an immediate spike in food prices, and supplies of fresh food could dwindle from grocery store shelves in a matter of days."
— 2019 April 1, Ana Swanson, “Avocado shortages and price spikes: How Trump’s border closing would hit U.S.”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:
"As well as the boom in off-peak leisure numbers, "there has been a big spike in passenger assistance - that's really taken off as well", he continues. "We're probably victims of our own success because we promote this more than we ever used to. We promote how accessible the railways are. I think that this area has more than doubled from pre-COVID levels."
— 2023 November 1, Nick Brodrick talks to Jason Cocker, “A Station that ‘Oozes’ Customer Service …”, in RAIL, number 995, pages 52-53:
"It was all true, it appeared. He sat down and wrote it, the editor read it and said: ' We don't use stories like this in this newspaper.' So the story ended up on the spike, reinforcing the principle that wife-swapping, unlike justice, must not be seen to be done."
— 1974, Books and Bookmen:
"Later I was entrusted with writing the letters to the editor, because nobody else ever wrote to our paper. The editor, Eric Lewis, had a slash and burn style of editing that left its mark on me forever. Most of my stories ended up on the spike."
— 2005, David Bouchier, Writer at Work: Reflections on the Art and Business of Writing, iUniverse, →ISBN:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The track shoe had a single metal ____ that provided extra grip.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He drove a large metal ____ into the ground to anchor the corner of the heavy canvas tent.