spike

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, probably from Old Norse spīk splinter & spīkr spike; akin to Middle Dutch spiker spike — more at spoke Date: 13th century 1. a very large nail 2. a. one of a row of pointed irons placed (as on the top of a wall) to prevent passage b. (1) one of several metal projections set in the sole and heel of a shoe to improve traction (2) plural a pair of shoes having spikes attached to the soles or soles and heels c. spindle 1e 3. something resembling a spike: as a. a young mackerel not over six inches (15.2 centimeters) long b. an unbranched antler of a young deer 4. plural spike heel 2 5. the act or an instance of spiking (as in volleyball) 6. a. a pointed element in a graph or tracing b. an unusually high and sharply defined maximum (as of amplitude in a wave train) 7. slang hypodermic needle 8. a momentary sharp increase and fall in electric potential; also action potential 9. an abrupt sharp increase (as in prices or rates) • spikelike adjective II. verb (spiked; spiking) Date: 1624 transitive verb 1. to fasten or furnish with spikes 2. a. to disable (a muzzle-loading cannon) temporarily by driving a spike into the vent b. to suppress or block completely <

spiked the rumor

> 3. a. to pierce or impale with or on a spike b. to reject (as a story) for publication or broadcast for editorial reasons 4. a. to add an alcoholic beverage to (a drink) <

spiked the punch

> b. to add a foreign substance to <

spike the coffee with tranquilizers

> c. to add something highly reactive (as a radioactive tracer) to d. to add vitality, zest, or spice to ; liven <

spiked the speech with humor

> <

spike the broth with peppers

> 5. to drive (as a volleyball) sharply downward with a hard blow; also to throw down sharply <

spiked the ball in the end zone

> 6. to undergo a sudden sharp increase in (temperature or fever) <

the patient spiked a fever of 103°

> intransitive verb to increase sharply <

battery sales spiked after the storm

> • spiker noun III. noun Etymology: Middle English spik, from Latin spica — more at spine Date: 14th century 1. an ear of grain 2. an elongated inflorescence similar to a raceme but having the flowers sessile on the main axis — see inflorescence illustration