TOP

Definition of spike noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

spike

noun
 
/spaɪk/
 
/spaɪk/
jump to other results
  1. [countable] a thin object with a sharp point, especially a pointed piece of metal, wood, etc.
    • a row of iron spikes on a wall
    • Her hair stood up in spikes.
    see also spike heel
  2. [countable, usually plural] a metal point attached to the sole of a sports shoe to prevent you from slipping while running compare cleat
  3. spikes
     [plural] shoes fitted with these metal spikes, used for running
    • a pair of spikes
  4. [countable] a long pointed group of flowers that grow together on a single stem
  5. [countable, usually singular] a sudden large increase in something
    • a spike in oil prices
    Topics Change, cause and effectc2
    6. Word Originnoun senses 1 to 3 and noun sense 5 Middle English: perhaps from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch spiker, related to spoke. noun sense 4 late Middle English (denoting an ear of corn): from Latin spica ‘spike, ear of corn’; related to spina ‘spine’.
See spike in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: spike

Nearby words

generic
adjective
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 5000
C1
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day