noun

pike

pyk

noun

A long spear once carried by foot soldiers, used for thrusting rather than throwing.

"Ranks of infantry braced their pikes against the oncoming cavalry charge."

"Museums display pikes that stretch over five metres long."

A large predatory freshwater fish with a long body and pointed jaws.

"He hooked a pike nearly a metre long in the reeds by the riverbank."

verb

To back out of a plan, commitment, or fight at the last moment.

"He said he'd come climbing with us, then piked on the day."

How to Use Pike

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDepending on context: an old-fashioned spear, a toothy river fish, or (informally) to chicken out of something.

Common mistake

The slang sense "to pike on something" (bail out) is mainly Australian/NZ informal usage — it will sound odd in formal writing.

Common pairings

a pike fisherman armed with pikes pike out of something

Word Forms

piked past tense, piked past tense, pikes plural, Pikes plural, pikes singular, pikes singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “pike” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Ranks of infantry braced their _____ against the oncoming cavalry charge.

Etymology

From Middle English pyke, going back to Old English and Old French words for a sharp point; the fish and the diving position both take their names from this same idea of something pointed.

Rhymes for pike

Ike bike mike Nike like dike hike alike spike strike unlike godlike

See all rhymes for pike →