spike

A spike can be a sudden, sharp jump, like a rise in gas prices after a hurricane. It can also mean something pointed, such as a long metal piece driven into wood or sharp points used for grip or protection. On a graph, it often looks like a line that shoots up very quickly.

Sometimes "spike" is used as a verb. A fever might spike overnight, meaning it rises suddenly. A volleyball player can also spike the ball, hitting it down hard. The word often suggests something sharp, sudden, or forceful.

The word "spike" has several related meanings, and they all suggest something sharp or sudden. In its most basic sense, it can mean a long, pointed piece of metal, such as a railroad spike or the metal points on some sports shoes. It can also refer more generally to any sharp point that sticks out and is used for grip, support, or protection.

It is also commonly used for a sudden, steep increase. People talk about a spike in prices, crime, web traffic, or temperature when something goes up quickly over a short time. This use fits the image of a graph line rising in a narrow, sharp shape.

As a verb, "to spike" can mean to rise sharply or to make something rise sharply, as when a fever spikes or bad news spikes fear. In sports, it can mean hitting or throwing something down with force, especially in volleyball or American football. In another common meaning, to spike a drink means to add alcohol or drugs to it without someone expecting it.

Historically, the word referred to a large nail, and that older sense still helps explain the newer ones. Whether it describes a pointed object, a sudden jump, or a hard downward hit, "spike" usually carries the idea of something narrow, strong, and intense.