dyke

IPA/daɪk/
KK[dˈaɪk]IPA/daɪk/

dyke — noun

  • dykesingular
  • dykesplural

1. A long wall or raised bank built at the edge of a river, lake, or the sea to kee

1.名詞B2
釋義

A long wall or raised bank built at the edge of a river, lake, or the sea to keep water from flooding low-lying land. The word can also mean a narrow ditch dug to carry water away from land.

例句

James walked along the dyke to see if the storm had damaged it.

verb: walk along the dyke (checking condition)

The old dyke held back the floodwater and saved the village from disaster.

verb: hold back floodwater (preventive function)

同義詞
  • levee

    More common in American English, especially for river embankments in the southern US. Used the same way as 'dyke'.

  • embankment

    A broader term that can include earth banks built for roads or railways, not only water control.

  • floodwall

    Usually made of concrete or steel rather than earth. More common in urban settings.

用法筆記

Frequently used in the plural ('dykes') when referring to a network of drainage channels or flood defences in a region, e.g. 'the dykes of the Netherlands'. The nearby sense 2 ('OFFENSIVE SLUR') is a separate word with the same spelling — context (water, farming, land) always signals this sense.

常見錯誤

❌The beavers built a dyke across the river.
✅The beavers built a dam across the river.
💡A dam blocks the whole river; a dyke runs alongside it to hold back water at the edges.
❌The dyke broke and water poured over the wall.' (redundant)
✅The dyke broke and water flooded the fields.
💡'Wall' is built into the meaning of 'dyke'.

2. An extremely offensive word used to refer to a lesbian. In modern English this t

2.名詞C1
釋義

An extremely offensive word used to refer to a lesbian. In modern English this term is a hateful slur and should never be used to describe a person.

例句

Teachers explain that the word 'dyke' is a hateful slur and should never be used.

metalinguistic use: 'the word "dyke" is…'

The newspaper issued an apology for publishing an article that used the word 'dyke'.

used as a topic of discussion, not as a term of address

用法筆記

WARNING: This sense is a slur. It must never be used to refer to a person. The only appropriate contexts are (a) discussing the word itself in a lesson about offensive language, or (b) quoting a historical text where the term appears — and even then, many writers today censor or replace it. Unlike some slurs, this word has very limited in-group reclamation; learners should not attempt to use it under any circumstances. Distinguish from sense 1 ('FLOOD BARRIER'), which is a neutral technical term with a completely different meaning.

常見錯誤

❌She is a dyke.
✅She is a lesbian.
💡'dyke' is a hateful slur; use 'lesbian' as the neutral, respectful term.