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   spike

   /spʌɪk/

   noun

   • 1. a thin, pointed piece of metal, wood, or another rigid material. Similar prongbarbpointskewerstakespitprojectiontinenailpinspurpitontechnical:fidhistorical:pricketthornspinepricklebristletechnical:spicule
   • ▪ 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 running shoe to prevent slipping.
   • ▪ a pair of running shoes with metal points set into the sole.
   • ▪ a pointed metal rod standing on a base and used for filing paper items such as bills, or journalistic material considered for publication and rejected. British
   • ▪ a hypodermic needle. informal
   • 2. a sharp increase in the magnitude or concentration of something: "the oil price spike"
   • ▪ a pulse of very short duration in which a rapid increase in voltage is followed by a rapid decrease.
   • 3. a hostel ward offering temporary accommodation for the homeless: informal British "he queued at the soup kitchen or the spike"

   verb

   • 1. impale on or pierce with a sharp point: "she spiked another oyster" Similar impalespearskewerpiercepenetrateperforatestabrun throughstickspittransfixrare:transpierce
   • ▪ injure (a player) with the spikes on one's shoes.
   • ▪ (of a newspaper editor) reject (a story) by or as if by filing it on a spike: "the editors deemed the article in bad taste and spiked it"
   • ▪ stop the progress of (a plan or undertaking); put an end to: "he doubted they would spike the entire effort over this one negotiation" Similar put a stop toput an end toput the lid onscupperscotchderailfrustratefoilthwartstymiebalkhinderobstructinformal:put paid toput the kibosh onclobberdish
   • ▪ render (a gun) useless by plugging up the vent with a spike. historical
   • 2. form into or cover with sharp points: "his hair was matted and spiked with blood"
   • ▪ take on a sharp, pointed shape: "lightning spiked across the sky"
   • ▪ increase and then decrease sharply; reach a peak: "oil prices would spike and fall again"
   • 3. add alcohol or a drug to contaminate (drink or food) surreptitiously: informal "she bought me an orange juice and spiked it with vodka" Similar adulteratecontaminatedruginformal:laceslip a Mickey Finn intodopedoctorcut
   • ▪ add sharp or pungent flavouring to (food or drink): "spike the liquid with lime or lemon juice"
   • ▪ enrich (a nuclear reactor or its fuel) with a particular isotope: "the plutonium mixture could be spiked with caesium-137"
   • 4. (in volleyball) hit (the ball) forcefully from a position near the net so that it moves downward into the opposite court.
   • ▪ fling (the ball) forcefully to the ground, typically in celebration of a touchdown or victory.

   Word Origin Middle English: perhaps from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch spiker, related to spoke1. The verb dates from the early 17th century.

   Scrabble Points: 11

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   • P

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   • I

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   • K

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