spike
/spaɪk/- 1.
A sharp point or thin piece of metal, wood, or bone. It can be used for fastening, climbing, or as a weapon.
- The fence has metal spikes on top.
- He stepped on a spike in the road.
- The climber held the rock spike tightly.
- 2.
A sudden, fast rise in an amount, price, level, or number. It often sounds stronger and more sudden than a simple increase.
- There was a spike in hospital visits last week.
- Fuel prices showed a sharp spike.
- We saw a spike in traffic after the post.
To push a sharp point into something, or to make something rise suddenly. In modern use, it often describes a sudden increase in data or numbers.
- The guard spiked the ball away.
- Sales spiked after the ad aired.
- Temperatures spiked in the afternoon.
Adinary Nuance
Spike is often stronger and more sudden than increase, rise, or growth. Writers use spike when the change is sharp, brief, and noticeable. For prices, numbers, or fever, it suggests a sudden jump, not a slow trend. In spoken English, it is common in news, business, and academic contexts.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- Sự tăng vọt
- Spanish
- Pico
- Chinese
- 激增
- Japanese
- 急上昇
- Korean
- 급증
Etymology
Spike came into English from Old English spīc or spīca, linked to a sharp point. The modern idea of a sudden rise developed later, by the late 1800s and 1900s.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is spike formal or informal?
- It is common in news, business, and academic English. It can also be used in everyday speech.
- What is the difference between spike and surge?
- A spike is usually sharper and more sudden. A surge can be strong too, but it may last longer.
- Can spike be a verb?
- Yes. It can mean to push with a spike, or to rise suddenly.
- Is spike common in IELTS writing?
- Yes. It is useful for describing sudden changes in graphs, prices, and numbers.