spike

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /spaɪk/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular spike

Plural spikes

1. (countable) A spike is a very large nail.
2. A spike is a very large increase in something.

   The price of Bitcoin spiked yesterday.

Verb

Plain form spike

Third-person singular spikes

Past tense spiked

Past participle spiked

Present participle spiking

1. If you spike something, you fasten it with spikes, or long, large nails.
2. If you spike a drink, you secretly add alcohol or another intoxicating substance into it.

   She spiked my lemonade with vodka!

3. If something spikes, it increases sharply.

   Traffic accidents spiked in December when there was ice on the roads.

Related words

• spiky