dike Hear it!

dike¹ Definition

dike (dīk)

noun

  1. Brit., Dialectal
    1. a ditch or watercourse
    2. the bank of earth thrown up in digging a ditch
  2. an embankment or dam made to prevent flooding by the sea or by a river
  3. a protective barrier or obstacle
  4. Scot. a low dividing wall of earth or stone
  5. Archaic a raised causeway
  6. Geol. igneous rock that solidified as a tabular body in a more or less vertical fissure

Etymology: ME < OE dic & ON diki, akin to ditch, Du dijk, Ger deich < IE base *dhēigw-, *dhīgw-, to pierce, fasten > L figere, fix

transitive verb diked, dik·ing

  1. to provide, protect, or enclose with a dike or dikes
  2. to drain by a ditch

dike² Definition

dike (dīk)

noun

dyke

dike² Related Forms

dikey adjective

dike Synonyms

dike

n.

dike Usage Examples

Converse of subject

protect: Towns protected by sand-bag dikes, were dry islands in the midst of what was described as the " Red Sea " .

Converse of object

propagate: The position of pre-existing faults relative to the propagating dike will control whether slip will occur.

Adjective modifier

  • protective: Thus 1,000 extra sandbags have been used to strengthen the protective dike at Luabo.
  • defensive: Langa said the state of the Marromeu defensive dike " is not encouraging " .

Modifies a noun

  • intrusion: The September 12, 1999 Upper East Rift Zone dike intrusion at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii.
  • reinforcement: The results so far, especially in the field of dike reinforcement, are encouraging.

Noun used with modifier

cross: Feet of meeting this meant that employer only has road or cross dike.

Browse dictionary entries near dike

  1. dik-dik
  2. Dijon mustard
  3. Dijon
  4. dihybrid
  5. dihedral
  6. digroup
  7. digressive
  8. digression
  9. digress
  10. digraph
  1. dikes
  2. diktat
  3. dil.
  4. dilapidate
  5. dilapidated
  6. dilapidation
  7. dilatant
  8. dilatation
  9. dilate
  10. dilation