spiked

Spiked is the past participle of spike and an adjective describing something that bears one or more spikes or sharp projections. The term derives from spike, a sharp, elongated projection, and is used both as an adjective and as a verb form (for example, the ball was spiked, the drink was spiked).

Common senses

- Physical form: items with sharp protrusions such as weapons (spiked clubs), architectural details, or natural features like plant spines and thorns.

- Fashion and design: elements with pointed features, including spiked jewelry, footwear, or hairstyles (spiked hair).

- Food and drink: to spike a beverage means to add alcohol or another substance; a spiked drink contains such additives.

- Sports and games: to spike means to strike a ball downward with force; a spiked ball is common in sports like volleyball.

- Data and science: a spike refers to a sudden, sharp change in a time series; spiked data describes those deviations.

Etymology and usage

The word originates from spike and appears in various domains, from descriptions of objects with protrusions to slang and media reporting. The term is often encountered in fashion, sports commentary, crime reporting (in reference to adulterated substances), and analyses of data patterns.

Examples

A spiked collar, a spiked punch (a drink that contains alcohol), a spiked hairstyle, or a dataset with spiked values.