1. (

• spike

) a transient variation in voltage or current ;

2. (

• spike

) sports equipment consisting of a sharp point on the sole of a shoe worn by athletes; "spikes provide greater traction" ;

3. (

• ear ,
• spike ,
• capitulum ,

) fruiting spike of a cereal plant especially corn ;

4. (

• spike

) (botany) an indeterminate inflorescence bearing sessile flowers on an unbranched axis ;

5. (

• spike ,

) a sharp rise followed by a sharp decline; "the seismograph showed a sharp spike in response to the temblor" ;

6. (

• spike_heel ,
• spike ,
• stiletto_heel

) a very high narrow heel on women's shoes ;

7. (

• spike ,

) each of the sharp points on the soles of athletic shoes to prevent slipping (or the shoes themselves); "the second baseman sharpened his spikes before every game"; "golfers' spikes damage the putting greens" ;

8. (

• spike ,

) a sharp-pointed projection along the top of a fence or wall (or a dinosaur) ;

9. (

• spike ,

) a long, thin sharp-pointed implement (wood or metal); "one of the spikes impaled him" ;

10. (

• spike ,
• spindle ,

) any holding device consisting of a rigid, sharp-pointed object; "the spike pierced the receipts and held them in order" ;

11. (

• spike ,

) a large stout nail; "they used spikes to fasten the rails to a railroad tie" ;

1. (

• spike

) stand in the way of ;

2. (

• transfix ,
• impale ,
• empale ,
• spike

) pierce with a sharp stake or point; "impale a shrimp on a skewer" ;

3. (

• spike ,

) secure with spikes ;

4. (

• spike ,
• spike_out

) bring forth a spike or spikes; "my hyacinths and orchids are spiking now" ;

5. (

• spike ,
• lace ,
• fortify

) add alcohol to (beverages); "the punch is spiked!" ;

6. (

• spike ,

) manifest a sharp increase; "the voltage spiked" ;