spike

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• noun An ear of grain, as of wheat.
• noun Botany A usually elongated, unbranched inflorescence with stalkless flowers arranged along an axis.
• noun A long, thick, sharp-pointed piece of wood or metal.
• noun A heavy nail.
• noun A spikelike part or projection, as.
• noun A sharp-pointed projection along the top of a fence or wall.
• noun A thin, sharp-pointed vertical rod for impaling papers; a spindle.
• noun An elongate unbranched inflorescence with sessile flowers.
• noun A thorn or spine.
• noun A tuft of hair that is stiffened, as with hair spray or soap, into a point.
• noun Slang A hypodermic needle.
• noun One of several sharp metal projections set in the sole or in the sole and heel of an athletic shoe for grip.
• noun A pair of athletic shoes having such projections.
• noun A pair of spike heels.
• noun An unbranched antler of a young deer.
• noun A young mackerel of small size, usually 15 centimeters (6 inches) or less in length.
• noun A sharp rise followed by a sharp decline in a graph or in the tracing of a scientific instrument.
• noun A sharp momentary increase in voltage or electric current.
• noun A sudden steep increase in prices.
• noun Sports The act of driving a volleyball at a sharp angle into the opponent's court by jumping near the net and hitting the ball down hard from above.
• noun Football The act of slamming the ball to the ground after succeeding in an important play, as after scoring a touchdown.
• noun Football The act of deliberately throwing the ball to the ground as an incomplete pass in order to stop the game clock.
• intransitive verb To secure or provide with a spike.
• intransitive verb To shape into spikes.
• intransitive verb To impale, pierce, or injure with a spike.
• intransitive verb To injure with spiked shoes, especially when sliding in baseball.
• intransitive verb To put an end to; terminate.
• intransitive verb To add alcoholic liquor to.
• intransitive verb To add a poison or other chemical to.
• intransitive verb To add flavor or spice to.
• intransitive verb To add excitement or vitality to.
• intransitive verb Sports To hit (a volleyball) in a spike.
• intransitive verb Football To throw (the ball) to the ground in a spike.
• intransitive verb To render (a muzzleloading gun) useless by driving a spike into the vent.
• intransitive verb To manifest or undergo a sudden increase in (something) followed by a sharp decrease.
• intransitive verb To manifest or undergo a sudden increase followed by a sharp decrease.

from The Century Dictionary.

• To fasten with spikes or long and large nails: as, to spike down the planks of a floor or a bridge.
• To set with spikes; furnish with spikes.
• To fix upon a spike.
• To make sharp at the end.
• To plug up the vent of with a spike, as a cannon.
• In base-ball and foot-racing, to strike or injure (a player) with the spikes in the shoes.
• noun A sharp point; a pike; a sharp-pointed projection.