spike

About 2.90 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun A sort of very large nail.
2. noun A piece of pointed metal etc. set with points upward or outward.

   The trap was lined with spikes.

3. noun Anything resembling such a nail in shape.
4. noun An ear of corn or grain.
5. noun A kind of inflorescence in which sessile flowers are arranged on an unbranched elongated axis.
6. noun A running shoe with spikes in the sole to provide grip.
7. noun A sharp peak in a graph.
8. noun A surge in power or in the price of a commodity, etc.; any sudden and brief change that would be represented by a sharp peak on a graph.

Similar words

impale lace fortify empale transfix ear capitulum spike out tip lance

Often followed by

and in of lee is was at the or

Word family

spiked spikelike spiker spikers spikes spiking