"spikes" in the noun sense

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"

"spikes" in the verb sense

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"

Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)

Princeton University "About WordNet®."
WordNet®. Princeton University. 2010.

View WordNet® License