Spike (redirected from spiked)

spike

A burst of extra voltage in a power line that lasts only a few nanoseconds. See power surge, power swell, sag and surge suppression.

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spike¹

1. a long metal nail

2. Physics

a. a transient variation in voltage or current in an electric circuit

b. a graphical recording of this, such as one of the peaks on an electroencephalogram

3. the straight unbranched antler of a young deer

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spike² Botany

1. an inflorescence consisting of a raceme of sessile flowers, as in the gladiolus and sedges

2. an ear of wheat, barley, or any other grass that has sessile spikelets

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spike [spīk]

(botany)

An indeterminate inflorescence with sessile flowers.

(design engineering)

A large nail, especially one longer than 3 inches (7.6 centimeters), and often of square section.

(physics)

A short-duration transient whose amplitude considerably exceeds the average amplitude of the associated pulse or signal.

(solid-state physics)

A sputtering event in which the process from impact of a bombarding projectile to the ejection of target atoms involves motion of a large number of particles in the target, so that collisions between particles become significant.

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spike

A very heavy nail, 3 in. (7.6 cm) to 12 in. (30.5 cm) in length, usually having a rectangular cross section.

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(jargon)

spike - 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 hard-coded).

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Spike 

an inflorescence, having sessile flowers (simple spike) or spikelets with a few flowers (compound spike) on the elongated main axis. Examples of plants with simple spikes are plants of the genus Plantago and many orchids. Rye, wheat, barley, and other cereals have compound spikes.

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Spike 

a part used for fastening rails to wooden crossties or beams. Spikes are made of carbon steel. They have an oval head, a square shank, and a pointed end. The standard spike has an overall length of 165 mm and weighs 0.378 kg. Longer spikes, with lengths of 205, 230, 255, and 280 mm, are used for track repairing.