English noun: spike | |||
1. | spike (event) a transient variation in voltage or current | ||
Broader (hypernym) | electrical discharge | ||
2. | spike (artifact) sports equipment consisting of a sharp point on the sole of a shoe worn by athletes | ||
Samples | Spikes provide greater traction. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | sports equipment | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | climber, climbing iron, crampon, crampoon, piton, pricket | ||
Part meronym | shoe | ||
3. | spike (plant) fruiting spike of a cereal plant especially corn | ||
Synonyms | capitulum, ear | ||
Broader (hypernym) | fruit | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | mealie | ||
Part meronym | corn, Indian corn, maize, Zea mays | ||
4. | spike (plant) (botany) an indeterminate inflorescence bearing sessile flowers on an unbranched axis | ||
Broader (hypernym) | inflorescence | ||
Part holonym | spadix | ||
Domain category | botany, phytology | ||
5. | spike (event) a sharp rise followed by a sharp decline | ||
Samples | The seismograph showed a sharp spike in response to the temblor. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | rise | ||
6. | spike (artifact) a very high narrow heel on women's shoes | ||
Synonyms | spike heel, stiletto heel | ||
Broader (hypernym) | heel | ||
7. | spike (artifact) each of the sharp points on the soles of athletic shoes to prevent slipping (or the shoes themselves) | ||
Samples | The second baseman sharpened his spikes before every game. Golfers' spikes damage the putting greens. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | point | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | gaff | ||
8. | spike (artifact) a sharp-pointed projection along the top of a fence or wall (or a dinosaur) | ||
Broader (hypernym) | projection | ||
9. | spike (artifact) a long, thin sharp-pointed implement (wood or metal) | ||
Samples | One of the spikes impaled him. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | implement | ||
10. | spike (artifact) any holding device consisting of a rigid, sharp-pointed object | ||
Samples | The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order. | ||
Synonyms | spindle | ||
Broader (hypernym) | holding device | ||
11. | spike (artifact) a large stout nail | ||
Samples | They used spikes to fasten the rails to a railroad tie. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | nail | ||
English verb: spike | |||
1. | spike (social) stand in the way of | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | banish, bar, relegate | ||
2. | spike (contact) pierce with a sharp stake or point | ||
Samples | Impale a shrimp on a skewer. | ||
Synonyms | empale, impale, transfix | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | pierce, thrust | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | pin, spear | ||
3. | spike (contact) secure with spikes | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | fasten, fix, secure | ||
4. | spike (change) bring forth a spike or spikes | ||
Samples | My hyacinths and orchids are spiking now. | ||
Synonyms | spike out | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | develop | ||
5. | spike (change) add alcohol to (beverages) | ||
Samples | The punch is spiked!. | ||
Synonyms | fortify, lace | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | alter, change, modify | ||
Domain category | cookery, cooking, preparation | ||
6. | spike (change) manifest a sharp increase | ||
Samples | The voltage spiked. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | increase | ||