spikes
spikes — 名詞
1. a narrow piece of hard material, such as metal, wood, or plastic, whose tip come
尖刺；釘
一端尖銳的金屬或硬質細長物
a narrow piece of hard material, such as metal, wood, or plastic, whose tip comes to a narrow point and which can pierce a surface or project outward from it
The old iron fence had sharp spikes along the top to stop people from climbing over it.
那道舊鐵柵欄的頂端有尖銳的尖刺，防止有人爬過去。
collocation: sharp spikes + fence/wall
Rachid carefully picked up the metal spike that had fallen off the construction site.
Rachid 小心翼翼地撿起從工地掉落的那根金屬尖刺。
A row of spikes on the dinosaur model ran from its head all the way down its back.
這隻恐龍模型背部從頭到尾有一整排尖刺。
The cactus had spikes so long and sharp that even the goats stayed away from it.
那棵仙人掌的刺又長又尖，連山羊都不敢靠近。
文法句型
spike + of + material
plural: spikes
用法筆記
Commonly used in the plural form 'spikes' when referring to a set or row of sharp points on a surface.
常見錯誤
2. footwear whose soles have small metal or hard plastic points that help the athle
釘鞋；防滑釘
底部有短釘的運動鞋或鞋底短釘
footwear whose soles have small metal or hard plastic points that help the athlete keep a firm grip on grass or track surfaces; also used to mean the short pointed pieces fitted onto the soles of such shoes
The runner changed into her spikes just before the race began on the wet track.
那位跑者在比賽開始前趕快換上她的釘鞋，準備在潮濕的跑道上起跑。
usage: 'spikes' meaning the shoes themselves
Felipe bought a new pair of spikes for the baseball season because the old ones had worn smooth.
Felipe 為棒球賽季買了一雙新釘鞋，因為舊的那雙鞋底已經磨平了。
Athletes wear spikes only on the field or track, never on hard pavement, to protect the soles.
運動員只在草地上或跑道上穿釘鞋，絕不穿在硬地面上，以保護鞋底。
Saira forgot her spikes at home and had to borrow a pair from a teammate before the race.
Saira 把釘鞋忘在家裡，只好在比賽前向隊友借了一雙。
Noor pulled on her spikes and jogged out to the starting line for the hundred-metre race.
Noor 穿上她的釘鞋，慢跑到位於起跑線準備百米賽跑。
The coach told the team to bring their spikes to every practice session on the grass field.
教練要求全隊每次在草地上練習都要帶釘鞋。
- cleats
similar shoes with studs; more common in football and rugby; 'cleats' often has wider studs while 'spikes' are shorter and sharper
文法句型
plural only: spikes
wear + spikes
pair of + spikes
用法筆記
Always used as a plural noun ('spikes'). When referring to a single shoe, say 'spike shoe' or name the specific piece ('one of the spikes'). The word can refer either to the pointed pieces on the sole or to the shoes that have them — context makes the meaning clear.
常見錯誤
3. a sudden large rise in the amount, level, or value of something, typically appea
驟增；飆升
數量或價格的突然大幅上升
a sudden large rise in the amount, level, or value of something, typically appearing as a sharp peak on a graph and often followed by a drop
There was a sharp spike in electricity demand during the winter storm.
冬季暴風雨期間，用電需求急劇飆升。
grammar pattern: spike in [noun]
The company reported a spike in online orders after the advertisement went viral.
該公司報告指出，廣告在網路上爆紅後，線上訂單量急遽飆升。
Doctors warned about a seasonal spike in flu cases every January and February.
醫師警告，每年一、二月是流感病例激增的季節。
The graph of the stock price showed a sudden spike followed by a slow return to normal levels.
那支股票的價格走勢圖出現一個突然的飆升，然後緩慢回落至正常水準。
- drop
a sudden fall in amount or level
文法句型
a spike + in + noun
spike + of + number
用法筆記
Often followed by 'in' (spike in prices, spike in cases). Usually describes something temporary — the spike goes up and then comes back down.
常見錯誤
4. a very brief but large increase in electrical voltage or current, often caused b
突波；尖峰
電壓或電流的短暫急升
a very brief but large increase in electrical voltage or current, often caused by a fault or storm and capable of damaging equipment
A power spike during the thunderstorm damaged several computers in the office.
雷雨期間的一次電源突波損壞了辦公室裡的幾台電腦。
grammar pattern: power spike + cause + damage
Most modern buildings include surge protectors that cut the power when a voltage spike occurs.
大多數現代建築都裝有突波保護器，能在電壓尖峰發生時切斷電源。
The technician measured a brief current spike when the old motor was switched on.
技術人員在啟動那台舊馬達時，測量到短暫的電流突波。
Without a surge protector, a sudden spike in voltage can destroy the internal parts of a television.
如果沒有突波保護器，突然的電壓尖峰可能會損壞電視的內部零件。
- surge
a broader term for any sudden increase in electrical power, not necessarily brief
- power surge
more general; may last longer than a spike
文法句型
voltage + spike
power + spike
用法筆記
Commonly paired with 'voltage' or 'power'. 'Surge' is more general; 'spike' emphasises the sharpness and brief duration.
5. a long narrow group of small flowers or grain kernels growing closely together o
穗狀花序
麥類或植物的細長花簇
a long narrow group of small flowers or grain kernels growing closely together on a single upright stem, found on plants such as wheat, lavender, and certain ornamental grasses
The lavender plant produces tall purple spikes that bees love to visit in summer.
薰衣草會長出高高的紫色穗狀花序，夏天時蜜蜂最愛飛來採蜜。
concrete example: lavender spikes
Wheat spikes bend under the weight of the ripening grains just before the harvest season.
小麥的穗子因成熟穀粒的重量而彎垂，再過不久就要收成了。
Yuki planted ornamental grass whose feathery spikes swayed beautifully in the autumn wind.
Yuki 種了一些觀賞草，它們羽毛般的穗在秋風中搖曳，非常好看。
Each spike on the rye plant held dozens of tiny seeds packed closely together along the stem.
黑麥植株的每個穗上都緊密排列著幾十顆細小的種子。
- ear
used specifically for grain plants like wheat, barley, and corn
- inflorescence
the broader botanical term for any arrangement of flowers on a stem; more technical
文法句型
flower + spike
spike + of + plant
用法筆記
A technical botanical term. In everyday conversation, English speakers are more likely to say 'the flowers at the top of the stem' than call them a spike. The word appears most often in gardening guides and biology textbooks.
spikes — 動詞
- spikespresent simple I / you / we / they
- spikeses3rd person singular
- spikesing-ing form
- spikesedpast simple
1. to put alcohol into a drink without the drinker knowing, or to make something mo
摻酒；加料
偷偷在飲料中加入酒精或增添趣味
to put alcohol into a drink without the drinker knowing, or to make something more lively or interesting by adding an unexpected element
Someone spiked the fruit punch with vodka at the office party while nobody was watching.
有人在公司派對上趁大家不注意，把伏特加摻進了水果雞尾酒裡。
pattern: spike + drink + with + alcohol
Tamar spiked her hot chocolate with a little rum to warm herself up after the long walk home.
Tamar 在她的熱巧克力裡加了一點蘭姆酒，讓走了一大段路回家的她暖和起來。
The chef spiked the sauce with chilli and ginger to give it an unexpected kick of flavour.
廚師在醬汁裡加了辣椒和薑，讓味道多了一股意想不到的衝勁。
Sven spiked his speech with jokes and personal stories to keep the audience interested throughout.
Sven 在演講中穿插笑話和個人故事，讓聽眾一直保持興趣。
文法句型
spike + drink/coffee/punch + with + alcohol
spiked + with + noun
用法筆記
When used literally (alcohol in a drink), 'spike' often has a negative or dangerous connotation if done secretly without consent. When used figuratively (spiking food with flavour, or a speech with humour), the connotation is positive — adding something exciting.
常見錯誤
2. to rise suddenly and steeply to a much higher level, often before falling back d
急升；飆升
突然大幅上升
to rise suddenly and steeply to a much higher level, often before falling back down again
Temperatures in the city spiked to forty degrees during the extreme July heatwave.
七月極端熱浪期間，這座城市的氣溫飆升到四十度。
pattern: [temperature/rate] + spike + to + [value]
The price of crude oil spiked sharply after news of the pipeline disruption reached traders.
原油價格在管線中斷的消息傳到交易商耳中後急遽飆升。
Anjali's heart rate spiked when she heard the unexpected news about the job promotion.
Anjali 聽到升職的意外消息時，心跳急遽加快。
Sales of air conditioners spike every July when the weather becomes extremely hot and humid.
每年七月天氣變得極度炎熱潮濕時，空調的銷量就會飆升。
- plummet
to fall steeply and quickly
文法句型
spike + to + number
spike + in + month/condition
spike + by + percentage
用法筆記
Unlike 'rise' or 'increase', 'spike' always implies a sudden, sharp movement — it is not used for gradual or steady increases. The increase is typically temporary.
常見錯誤
3. to push a sharp-pointed object into someone or something, piercing or impaling t
刺入；戳進
用尖銳物刺入人或物體
to push a sharp-pointed object into someone or something, piercing or impaling the surface
The gardener spiked his thumb on a hidden rose thorn while pulling out weeds.
園丁在拔雜草時，拇指被藏在土裡的玫瑰刺扎傷了。
pattern: spike + body part + on + sharp object
Mia spiked her palm on a shard of glass while trying to lift the old window frame.
Mia 在試圖抬起舊窗框時，手掌被一塊碎玻璃刺傷。
The railway workers spiked the steel rails to the wooden sleepers using heavy hammers.
鐵路工人用大錘將鋼軌用道釘固定在木枕上。
Anjali spiked the fence post deep into the soil with a heavy mallet until it stood firm.
Anjali 用大槌把籬笆樁深深打入土中，直到它穩穩立住。
The fence posts were spiked firmly into the frozen ground to hold them in place all winter.
籬笆樁被打進凍結的土地裡固定住，以度過整個冬天。
文法句型
spike + object
spike + object + on + sharp object
spike + object + into + place
用法筆記
The core meaning involves piercing or impaling with a pointed object (e.g. 'spiked his thumb on a rose thorn'). This sense also covers the deliberate fastening of materials with large spikes, as in construction or railway work (e.g. 'spiked the rails to the sleepers'), though that usage is less common and mostly appears in specialised contexts.
常見錯誤
4. in the game of volleyball, to strike the ball with force so that it travels stee
扣球；扣殺
排球中用力將球扣向對方場地
in the game of volleyball, to strike the ball with force so that it travels steeply downward across the net into the opponents' area
Saira jumped high and spiked the volleyball straight down into the opponent's court.
Saira 高高跳起，把排球直接扣殺到對方的場地裡。
grammar: spike + the ball + [direction/location]
The team's best hitter can spike the ball at speeds over eighty kilometres an hour.
該隊最強的攻擊手能以時速超過八十公里的速度扣球。
Caleb practised his approach every day to learn how to spike more accurately during matches.
Caleb 每天練習助跑，學習如何在比賽中更準確地扣球。
The setter passed the ball perfectly, allowing her teammate to spike it for the winning point.
舉球員精準地將球托起，讓隊友能夠扣殺得分。
- bump
to hit the ball gently upward using the forearms in volleyball
文法句型
spike + the ball
spike + over/across + the net
用法筆記
In volleyball, 'spike' is the standard term for an attacking hit. The noun form 'a spike' is also common (e.g., 'She has a powerful spike').
常見錯誤
❌ 'He spiked the ball into the net.' (when describing a mistake) — 'Spike' implies a hard downward hit that succeeds; a ball that hits the net is usually called a 'block' or 'error', not a spike.
5. to prevent a news story from appearing in a newspaper, magazine, or television b
封殺；攔下
決定不發表或不播出報導
to prevent a news story from appearing in a newspaper, magazine, or television broadcast, usually for editorial or political reasons
The newspaper's editor spiked the article about the mayor's financial problems at the last minute.
報社編輯在最後一刻攔下了那篇關於市長財務問題的文章。
grammar pattern: editor + spikes + article
Kabir was frustrated when his investigation into the factory was spiked by his editor.
Kabir 很沮喪，因為他關於工廠的調查報導被編輯封殺了。
passive: was spiked by [editor]
The journalist suspected that her story was spiked because it criticised a major advertiser.
那位記者懷疑她的報導被攔下，是因為內容批評了一家大廣告商。
Several newspapers spiked reports about the protest after pressure from government officials.
幾家報紙在政府官員施壓後，封殺了關於那場抗議活動的報導。
- publish
to make a story available to the public
文法句型
spike + article/story
be spiked
get + past participle: spiked
用法筆記
Primarily a British English term used in journalism. The American equivalent is more commonly 'kill the story'. Often used in the passive voice because the writer is not the one who makes the decision.