Background for spikes

spikes

/spaɪks/

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noun

In a violin-family instrument, the carved wooden plug which sits in the bottom block of the instrument.

Examples :

"The luthier carefully examined the violin's spikes to ensure they were properly fitted. "

music part technical

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noun

The spike of a cello or double bass that makes contact with the floor and supports the weight of the instrument.

Examples :

"The cellist adjusted the spike of her instrument to the correct height before starting to play. "

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noun

A sort of very large nail.

Examples :

"The construction workers used heavy hammers to drive the thick, iron spikes into the wooden beams of the bridge. "

material item thing

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noun

A piece of pointed metal etc. set with points upward or outward.

Examples :

"The trap was lined with spikes."

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noun

Anything resembling such a nail in shape.

Examples :

"The old fence had spikes along the top to deter climbers. "

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noun

An ear of corn or grain.

Examples :

"The farmer harvested several spikes of corn from his field. "

plant agriculture food

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noun

A kind of inflorescence in which sessile flowers are arranged on an unbranched elongated axis.

Examples :

"The gardener admired the tall spikes of lavender flowers in the garden, each one covered with tiny, fragrant blossoms. "

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noun

(chiefly in the plural) A running shoe with spikes in the sole to provide grip.

Examples :

"The track team wears spikes to prevent slipping during races. "

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noun

A sharp peak in a graph.

Examples :

"The graph showed spikes in website traffic every evening after 8 PM. "

math statistics figure signal amount

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noun

A surge in power or in the price of a commodity etc.

Examples :

"There were unexpected spikes in the price of gasoline last week. "

energy business economy finance

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noun

The long, narrow part of a high-heeled shoe that elevates the heel.

Examples :

"She walked carefully across the uneven pavement, worried about getting her spikes caught in a crack. "

wear style appearance

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noun

A long nail for storing papers by skewering them; (by extension) the metaphorical place where rejected newspaper articles are sent.

Examples :

"The editor sighed and said the article was going to the spikes, meaning it wouldn't be published. "

stationery media writing work

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noun

An attack from, usually, above the height of the net performed with the intent to send the ball straight to the floor of the opponent or off the hands of the opposing block.

Examples :

"The volleyball team practiced their spikes to improve their offensive game. "

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noun

An adolescent male deer.

Examples :

"During our hike, we saw several deer, including a few spikes grazing in the meadow. "

animal age nature

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noun

The casual ward of a workhouse.

Examples :

"During the harsh winter months, the spikes offered a meager but vital shelter for the homeless. "

building architecture history work society organization place

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noun

Spike lavender.

Examples :

"oil of spike"

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verb

To fasten with spikes, or long, large nails.

Examples :

"to spike down planks"

action building

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verb

To set or furnish with spikes.

Examples :

"The construction worker spikes the wooden planks together to build a sturdy fence. "

action technical material

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verb

To embed nails into (a tree) so that any attempt to cut it down will damage equipment or injure people.

Examples :

"The activists threatened to spike the old-growth trees to prevent the logging company from cutting them down. "

environment property action law technology weapon

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verb

To fix on a spike.

Examples :

"The angry worker spikes the incorrect invoices onto the metal rod. "

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verb

To discard; to decide not to publish or make public.

Examples :

"The editor decided to spike the article because it contained too many factual errors. "

media communication writing

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verb

To increase sharply.

Examples :

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

amount business economy

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verb

To covertly put alcohol or another intoxicating substance into a drink.

Examples :

"She spiked my lemonade with vodka!"

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verb

To add a small amount of one substance to another.

Examples :

"The water sample to be tested has been spiked with arsenic, antimony, mercury, and lead in quantities commonly found in industrial effluents."

substance chemistry

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verb

To attack from, usually, above the height of the net with the intent to send the ball straight to the floor of the opponent or off the hands of the opposing block.

Examples :

"The volleyball player jumps high and spikes the ball over the net, aiming for the empty spot on the opponent's court. "

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verb

To render (a gun) unusable by driving a metal spike into its touch hole.

Examples :

"The retreating soldiers, knowing the enemy would soon arrive, spiked the cannons to prevent them from being used against their own forces. "

military weapon

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verb

Examples :

"The football team spiked the ball after scoring a touchdown, celebrating their victory. "

sport game action

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noun

A device consisting of a portable bed of nails used by police and armed forces to puncture car tires.

Examples :

"The police laid out the spikes across the road to stop the fleeing suspect's car. "

police military weapon device vehicle

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noun

A pair of athletic shoes equipped with spikes on the sole and heel for better traction.

Examples :

"The runner put on her spikes before the track meet to get a better grip on the ground. "