spike

spike¹ [spaık] n

[Date: 1200-1300; Origin: Probably from Middle Dutch]

1.) something long and thin with a sharp point, especially a pointed piece of metal

2.) [usually singular]

a sudden large increase in the number or rate of something

spike in

▪ a spike in interest rates

3.) spikes [plural]

shoes with metal points on the bottom, worn by people who run races, play golf etc

4.) spike heels [plural]

a pair of women's shoes with very high thin heels

spike ²

spike² v

1.) [T]

to secretly add strong alcohol or a drug to someone's drink or food

spike sth with sth

▪ The orange juice had been spiked with gin.

2.)

if the number or rate of something spikes, it increases quickly and by a large amount

▪ New telephone orders have spiked in the last two years.

3.) [T]

to push a sharp tool or object into something

4.) [T]

to prevent someone from saying something or printing something in a newspaper

▪ a clumsy attempt to spike rumours of a cabinet split

5.) a) spike the ball

[i]AmE to powerfully throw an American football down on the ground to celebrate a ↑touchdown

b) [I and T]

to powerfully hit a ↑volleyball down over the net

6.) spike sb's guns

BrE to spoil an opponent's plans