spike1
n.
- a thin pointed piece of metal or another rigid material.
▸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 sports shoe to prevent slipping.
▸
(spikes)
a pair of sports shoes with spikes.
▸chiefly Brit. a pointed metal rod standing on a base and used for filing bills or journalistic material rejected for publication.
- a sharp increase in magnitude or intensity.
▸Electronics a pulse of very short duration.
- Brit. informal the casual ward of a hostel offering temporary accommodation for the homeless.
v.
- impale on or pierce with a spike.
▸historical render (a gun) useless by plugging up the vent with a spike.
- form into or cover with sharp points.
- (of a newspaper editor) reject (a story) by or as if by filing it on a spike.
▸thwart.
- informal lace (drink or food) with alcohol or a drug surreptitiously.
▸Physics & Chemistry enrich with a particular isotope.
- increase and then decrease sharply.
- (in volleyball) hit (the ball) forcefully from a position near the net so that it moves downward into the opposite court.
▸American Football fling (the ball) forcefully to the ground, typically in celebration of a touchdown or victory.
Phrase
- spike someone's guns
Brit. thwart someone's plans.
Etymology
ME: perh. from Mid. Low Ger., MDu. spiker, rel. to spoke1.
spike2
n.
Botany a flower cluster formed of many flower heads attached directly to a long stem.
Etymology
ME (denoting an ear of corn): from L. spica (see spica).