Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun spike

11 senses of spike

Sense 1
spike -- (a transient variation in voltage or current)
       => electrical discharge -- (a discharge of electricity)

Sense 2
spike -- (sports equipment consisting of a sharp point on the sole of a shoe worn by athletes; "spikes provide greater traction")
       => sports equipment -- (equipment needed to participate in a particular sport)

Sense 3
ear, spike, capitulum -- (fruiting spike of a cereal plant especially corn)
       => fruit -- (the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant)

Sense 4
spike -- ((botany) an indeterminate inflorescence bearing sessile flowers on an unbranched axis)
       => inflorescence -- (the flowering part of a plant or arrangement of flowers on a stalk)

Sense 5
spike -- (a sharp rise followed by a sharp decline; "the seismograph showed a sharp spike in response to the temblor")
       => rise -- (a growth in strength or number or importance)

Sense 6
spike heel, spike, stiletto heel -- (a very high narrow heel on women's shoes)
       => heel -- (the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation)

Sense 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")
       => point -- (sharp end; "he stuck the point of the knife into a tree"; "he broke the point of his pencil")

Sense 8
spike -- (a sharp-pointed projection along the top of a fence or wall (or a dinosaur))
       => projection -- (any structure that branches out from a central support)

Sense 9
spike -- (a long, thin sharp-pointed implement (wood or metal); "one of the spikes impaled him")
       => implement -- (instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end)

Sense 10
spike, spindle -- (any holding device consisting of a rigid, sharp-pointed object; "the spike pierced the receipts and held them in order")
       => holding device -- (a device for holding something)

Sense 11
spike -- (a large stout nail; "they used spikes to fasten the rails to a railroad tie")
       => nail -- (a thin pointed piece of metal that is hammered into materials as a fastener)

Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb spike

6 senses of spike

Sense 1
spike -- (stand in the way of)
       => banish, relegate, bar -- (expel, as if by official decree; "he was banished from his own country")

Sense 2
transfix, impale, empale, spike -- (pierce with a sharp stake or point; "impale a shrimp on a skewer")
       => pierce, thrust -- (penetrate or cut through with a sharp instrument)

Sense 3
spike -- (secure with spikes)
       => fasten, fix, secure -- (cause to be firmly attached; "fasten the lock onto the door"; "she fixed her gaze on the man")

Sense 4
spike, spike out -- (bring forth a spike or spikes; "my hyacinths and orchids are spiking now")
       => develop -- (grow, progress, unfold, or evolve through a process of evolution, natural growth, differentiation, or a conducive environment; "A flower developed on the branch"; "The country developed into a mighty superpower"; "The embryo develops into a fetus"; "This situation has developed over a long time")

Sense 5
spike, lace, fortify -- (add alcohol to (beverages); "the punch is spiked!")
       => change, alter, modify -- (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue")

Sense 6
spike -- (manifest a sharp increase; "the voltage spiked")
       => increase -- (become bigger or greater in amount; "The amount of work increased")