pike

¹ American  

[pahyk] / paɪk /

noun

plural

pike,

plural

pikes

1. any of several large, slender, voracious freshwater fishes of the genus Esox, having a long, flat snout.

2. any of various superficially similar fishes, as the walleye or pikeperch.

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pike ² American  

[pahyk] / paɪk /

noun

1. a shafted weapon having a pointed head, formerly used by infantry.

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verb (used with object)

piked, piking

1. to pierce, wound, or kill with or as with a pike.

pike ³ American  

[pahyk] / paɪk /

noun

1. a toll road or highway; turnpike.

2. a tollgate on a turnpike.

3. the toll paid at a tollgate.

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idioms

1. come down the pike, to appear or come forth.

   the greatest idea that ever came down the pike.

pike ⁴ American  

[pahyk] / paɪk /

noun

Chiefly British.

1. a hill or mountain with a pointed summit.

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pike ⁵ American  

[pahyk] / paɪk /

noun

1. a sharply pointed projection or spike.

2. the pointed end of anything, as of an arrow or a spear.

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pike ⁶ American  

[pahyk] / paɪk /

verb (used without object)

Older Slang.

piked, piking

1. to go, leave, or move along quickly.

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pike ⁷ American  

[pahyk] / paɪk /

noun

Diving, Gymnastics.

1. a body position, resembling a V shape, in which the back and head are bent forward and the legs lifted and held together, with the hands touching the feet or backs of the knees or the arms extended sideways.

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Pike ⁸ American  

[pahyk] / paɪk /

noun

1. James Albert, 1913–69, U.S. Protestant Episcopal clergyman, lawyer, and author.

2. Zebulon Montgomery 1779–1813, U.S. general and explorer.

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pike ¹ British  

/ paɪk /

noun

1. a medieval weapon consisting of an iron or steel spearhead joined to a long pole, the pikestaff

2. a point or spike

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verb

1. (tr) to stab or pierce using a pike

pike ² British  

/ paɪk /

noun

1. any of several large predatory freshwater teleost fishes of the genus Esox, esp E. lucius ( northern pike ), having a broad flat snout, strong teeth, and an elongated body covered with small scales: family Esocidae

2. any of various similar fishes

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pike ³ British  

/ paɪk /

noun

1. short for turnpike

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pike ⁴ British  

/ paɪk /

noun

1. dialect a pointed or conical hill

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pike ⁵ British  

/ paɪkt, paɪk /

adjective

1. (of the body position of a diver) bent at the hips but with the legs straight

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Other Word Forms

• pikelike adjective

Etymology

Origin of pike¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English; so called from its pointed snout ( see pike ⁵)

Origin of pike²

First recorded in 1505–15; from Middle French pique, feminine variant of pic “a pointed tool,” from Germanic. See pick ², pike ⁵, pique ¹

Origin of pike³

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30; short for turnpike

Origin of pike⁴

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; special use of pike ⁵; compare Old English hornpīc “pinnacle”

Origin of pike⁵

First recorded before 900; Middle English pik “pick, spike, (pilgrim's) staff,” Old English pīc “pointed tool”; see pick ²

Origin of pike⁶

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English pyke (intransitive); perhaps originally “to equip oneself with a walking stick”; see pike ⁵

Origin of pike⁷

First recorded in 1955–60; perhaps special use of pike ¹

Explanation

A pike was a long, spear-like weapon that infantry troops used in the medieval and Renaissance eras. Fighting with a pike while riding a horse required great balance. The difference between a pike and a spear is that a pike must be held with two hands in order to be thrust in the direction of an enemy fighter. The pointed end of a pike or spear is also known as a pike. It might seem confusing that a pike is also a type of freshwater fish, until you see the pike's sharp, pointed (pike-like) nose. In transportation, pike can refer to a highway. Finally, pike can mean a position in gymnastics or diving in which an athlete bends at the waist with toes pointed. The Old English root, piic, means "point."

Example Sentences

Among them is one student completing his work on pike in the lake.

From BBC • Aug. 30, 2025

Senators, after all, are the points of contact for governors who want to complain about federal funding cuts coming down the pike that might screw up their budgets.

From Slate • May 20, 2025

I've got two other books in the pike to follow after that.

From Salon • Dec. 28, 2024

“Most of the time I’m just trying not to die,” Biles says of executing the extremely difficult Yurchenko double pike, not exaggerating.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 17, 2024

It was a baby pike, absolutely rigid and probably asleep, and it looked like a pipe stem or a sea-horse stretched out flat It would be a brigand when it grew up.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White