spike
Meaning: A sudden, sharp increase in something, typically temporary. As a verb, to increase sharply and suddenly, or to secretly add alcohol or a substance to a drink.
Spike functions as both noun and verb with several meanings. As a noun, it describes a sudden, usually temporary, sharp increase (a spike in prices, a spike in cases). As a verb, it can mean to increase sharply (infection rates spiked), to secretly add a substance to someone's drink (spiking a drink), or in journalism, to suppress a story. 'Spike' differs from 'surge' in suggesting a sharper, more temporary peak. Common collocations include 'spike in,' 'price spike,' 'temperature spike,' and 'spiked drink.'
Examples
- There was a sharp spike in energy prices following the disruption to supply chains. 供应链中断后,能源价格出现了急剧飙升。Se produjo un fuerte repunte de los precios de la energía tras la alteración de las cadenas de suministro.サプライチェーンの混乱を受けて、エネルギー価格が急騰しました。공급망 혼란에 이어 에너지 가격이 급등했습니다.
- Hospital admissions spiked dramatically during the winter wave of the virus. 冬季病毒浪潮期间,医院入院人数急剧攀升。Los ingresos hospitalarios se dispararon dramáticamente durante la oleada invernal del virus.冬のウイルス流行の波の間、入院患者数が劇的に急増しました。겨울철 바이러스 유행 기간 동안 입원 환자 수가 극적으로 급증했습니다.
- The police warned revellers to keep an eye on their drinks amid reports of drinks being spiked in local bars. 警方警告狂欢者注意看管好自己的饮料,因为有报告称当地酒吧出现了饮料被下药的事件。La policía advirtió a los juerguistas que vigilaran sus bebidas ante las denuncias de adulteración de copas en bares de la zona.地元のバーで飲み物に薬物を入れられたとの報告を受け、警察はパーティー参加者に飲み物から目を離さないよう警告しました。지역 바에서 음료에 약물이 투입되었다는 신고가 접수됨에 따라 경찰은 파티 참가자들에게 음료에서 눈을 떼지 말라고 경고했습니다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: professional, media, general
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Middle English spik, probably from Old Norse spik (spike, nail) or Middle Dutch spiker. The figurative sense of a sudden sharp increase developed in the 20th century from the visual image of a sharp point on a graph.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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