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spike |
6 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Spike \Spike\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Spiked}; p. pr & vb n. {Spiking}.] 1. To fasten with spikes, or long, large nails; as to spike down planks. 2. To set or furnish with spikes. 3. To fix on a spike. [R.] --Young. 4. To stop the vent of (a gun or cannon) by driving a spike nail, or the like into it From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Spike \Spike\, n. [Akin to LG spiker, spieker a large nail, D. spijker Sw spik, Dan. spiger, Icel. sp[=i]k; all perhaps from L. spica a point, an ear of grain; but in the sense of nail more likely akin to E. spoke of a wheel. Cf {Spine}.] 1. A sort of very large nail; also a piece of pointed iron set with points upward or outward. 2. Anything resembling such a nail in shape. He wears on his head the corona radiata . . .; the spikes that shoot out represent the rays of the sun. --Addison. 3. An ear of corn or grain. 4. (Bot.) A kind of flower cluster in which sessile flowers are arranged on an unbranched elongated axis. {Spike grass} (Bot.), either of two tall perennial American grasses ({Uniola paniculata}, and {U. latifolia}) having broad leaves and large flattened spikelets. {Spike rush}. (Bot.) See under {Rush}. {Spike shell} (Zo["o]l.), any pteropod of the genus {Styliola} having a slender conical shell. {Spike team}, three horses, or a horse and a yoke of oxen, harnessed together, a horse leading the oxen or the span. [U.S.] From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Spike \Spike\, n. [Cf. G. spieke, L. spica an ear of grain. See {Spikenard}.] (Bot.) Spike lavender. See {Lavender}. {Oil of spike} (Chem.), a colorless or yellowish aromatic oil extracted from the European broad-leaved lavender, or aspic ({Lavendula Spica}), used in artist's varnish and in veterinary medicine. It is often adulterated with oil of turpentine, which it much resembles. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: spike n 1: a transient variation in voltage or current 2: sharp point on the sole of shoe worn by athletes; spikes provide greater traction 3: fruiting spike of a cereal plant especially corn [syn: {ear}, {capitulum}] 4: (botany) an indeterminate inflorescence bearing sessile flowers on an unbranched axis 5: a sharp-pointed projection along the top of a fence or wall 6: a long sharp-pointed implement (wood or metal) 7: any long sharp-pointed object used as a fastener or holder 8: a long metal nail v 1: stand in the way of 2: pierce with a sharp stake or point; "impale a shrimp on a skewer" [syn: {transfix}, {impale}, {empale}] 3: secure with spikes 4: bring forth a spike or spikes, as of flowers, such as hyacinths [syn: {spike out}] 5: add alcohol beverages [syn: {lace}, {fortify}] From Jargon File (4.2.3, 23 NOV 2000) [jargon]: spike v. To defeat a selection mechanism by introducing a (sometimes temporary) device that forces a specific result. The word is used in several industries; telephone engineers refer to spiking a relay by inserting a pin to hold the relay in either the closed or open state, and railroaders refer to spiking a track switch so that it cannot be moved In programming environments it normally refers to a temporary change, usually for testing purposes (as opposed to a permanent change, which would be called {hardwired}). From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (13 Mar 01) [foldoc]: spikeTo defeat a selection mechanism by introducing a (sometimes temporary) device that forces a specific result. The word is used in several industries; telephone engineers refer to spiking a relay by inserting a pin to hold the relay in either the closed or open state, and railroaders refer to spiking a track switch so that it cannot be moved In programming environments it normally refers to a temporary change, usually for testing purposes (as opposed to a permanent change, which would be called {hard-coded}). (1999-10-18)
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