pike
/paɪk/ (bre, ipa) · [pˈaɪk] /paɪk/ (ame, ipa) · [pˈaɪk] /ˈpīk/ (ame, mw)
pike — noun
- pikesingular
- pikesplural
1. a large fish from lakes and rivers, with a long mouth and sharp teeth, that feed
a large fish from lakes and rivers, with a long mouth and sharp teeth, that feeds on other fish.
A huge pike lay beside the boat after Ken pulled it in.
collocation: huge pike
The children watched a pike chase smaller fish near the reeds.
pattern: a pike + chase prey
In winter, farmers saw a pike under the clear river ice.
Mara cooked the pike with lemon after the fishing trip.
- northern pike
the full species name when you want to be exact
- pickerel
a related fish name that can overlap in some regional use, but is not always the same fish
文法句型
catch a pike
a pike in the river
用法筆記
Often used for the species name in fishing, nature, or cooking contexts. When you mean the exact common species, people also say 'northern pike'.
2. a fast main road for long trips, where you pay money to drive on it.
a fast main road for long trips, where you pay money to drive on it.
Dad paid at the gate before driving onto the pike.
pattern: onto the pike
We took the pike and reached Columbus before dark.
collocation: take the pike
A crash on the pike slowed buses near the airport.
The sign told trucks to leave the pike at exit six.
- freeway
in many contexts, a road used without paying a toll
文法句型
the pike
on the pike
take the pike
用法筆記
Mostly American and often used with 'the' or in road names. In wider everyday English, 'toll road' or 'turnpike' is more common.
常見錯誤
3. a very long stick with a pointed metal end, carried by soldiers in older wars.
a very long stick with a pointed metal end, carried by soldiers in older wars.
Museum visitors stopped beside a pike longer than the guard.
pattern: a pike longer than...
The front line lowered each pike as the horses came closer.
collocation: lower a pike
A rusted pike hung above the stone fireplace in the hall.
The play showed farmers carrying pikes through the town square.
文法句型
carry a pike
lower a pike
用法筆記
Mostly historical. Distinguish from 'lance', which is usually linked with a rider on horseback rather than soldiers on foot.
4. a diving or gymnastics shape with straight legs and the upper body folded from t
a diving or gymnastics shape with straight legs and the upper body folded from the hips.
The coach asked Nina to hold the pike before entering the water.
collocation: hold the pike
In the photo, Omar's pike looked tighter than last week.
The judge gave extra points for a clean pike off the board.
During practice, the girls moved from tuck to pike and back.
- pike position
full coaching term for the same body shape
- pike shape
used when describing how the body looks during the move
- tuck
a different diving or gymnastics shape with bent knees
文法句型
hold a pike
in pike
go from tuck to pike
用法筆記
Common after verbs like 'hold' and in the phrase 'in pike'. Distinguish from 'tuck', where the knees bend instead of staying straight.
常見錯誤
5. in northern England, a hill or mountain top with a pointed shape.
in northern England, a hill or mountain top with a pointed shape.
From the farm, we could see a pike above the morning mist.
regional landscape use
The map marked two pikes north of the village.
plural: pikes
Rain covered the pike, but its sharp top still showed.
After lunch, the walkers climbed the pike behind the inn.
文法句型
a pike above the village
climb the pike
用法筆記
Regional British use, mainly in place names or local speech in northern England. Outside that area, 'peak' or 'hill' is more likely.
pike — verb
- pikepresent simple I / you / we / they
- pikes3rd person singular
- piking-ing form
- pikedpast simple
1. to wound, kill, or push through with a pike.
to wound, kill, or push through with a pike.
The guards piked the wild boar before it reached the gate.
pattern: pike + animal
In the battle scene, soldiers piked straw dummies in the yard.
A frightened farmer piked the wolf to protect the sheep.
The rebels piked the enemy horse on the narrow bridge.
文法句型
pike + person/animal
用法筆記
Object is the person or animal hit by the weapon. Mostly found in historical writing or staged battle description.
2. to go away suddenly or drop out without warning.
to go away suddenly or drop out without warning.
Rosa got angry and piked before the cake was served.
leave suddenly during an event
When the teacher arrived, two boys piked through the back door.
Lena promised to help, then piked at the last minute.
After one rude joke, Marcus piked and went home.
- stay
means not leaving
文法句型
[person] pikes
pike at the last minute
用法筆記
Informal and uncommon. Often used without an object for leaving a place or backing out of a plan suddenly; distinguish from verb sense 3, which focuses on the route taken.
常見錯誤
3. to make your way forward, especially through a place that is crowded or difficul
to make your way forward, especially through a place that is crowded or difficult.
The nurse piked through the crowd to reach the injured child.
pattern: pike through + crowd
We piked along the wet rocks until we found a cave.
pattern: pike along + route
At noon, traders piked across the square with heavy bags.
The dog piked between the chairs and under the table.
- make your way
closest neutral phrase for moving forward with effort
- thread
suggests careful movement through narrow spaces or a crowd
- stop
means no longer moving forward
文法句型
pike through + place
pike along + route
pike across + area
用法筆記
Usually followed by a phrase with 'through', 'across', or 'along'. Distinguish from verb sense 2, where the key idea is sudden departure rather than forward movement.