noun

1. a long, heavy nail
2. a sharp-pointed part or projection, usually slender and of metal, as along the top of an iron fence, etc.
3. any long, slender, pointed object, as the unbranched antler of a young deer
4. 1. any of a number of sharp or pointed metal projections on the soles, and often on the heels, of shoes used for baseball, golf, track, etc. to prevent slipping
   2. a pair of such shoes
   3. a high, very thin heel on a woman's shoe
      also spike heel
5. ☆ a young mackerel not more than six inches long
6. 1. a transient wave or variation in potential difference that propagates along a nerve axon
   2. a graphic recording or tracing of this, as any of the jagged peaks in an electroencephalogram
7. a sudden, rapid rise, as in blood pressure

Etymology: ME < ON spīkr, a nail, spike, or < MDu & MLowG spīker, both ult. < IE base *(s)p(h)ei-, sharp, pointed splinter > spit, spoke, L spica, ear of grain, spina, spine

transitive verb spiked, spiking spik′·ing

1. to fasten or fit with or as with a spike or spikes
2. to mark, pierce, cut, etc. with a spike or spikes, or impale on a spike
3. to make (a cannon) unusable by driving a spike into the touchhole
4. to cause to rise suddenly and rapidly
5. to thwart, frustrate, or block (a scheme, etc.)
6. ☆ Slang to add a substance, as a narcotic or other drug, to (a drink, food, etc.); specif., to add alcoholic liquor to (a drink)
7. Baseball to injure with the spikes on one's shoes
8. Football to throw (the football) to the ground, esp. in celebration of scoring a touchdown
9. ☆ Volleyball to leap into the air while close to the net and smash (the ball) into the opponents' court

intransitive verb