A Spike

1. A sort of very large nail; also, a piece of pointed iron set with points upward/outward.
2. Anything resembling such a nail in shape.
3. An ear of corn or grain.
4. (botany) A kind of inflorescence in which sessile flowers are arranged on an unbranched elongated axis.
5. (in plural spikes; informal) Running shoes with spikes in the soles.
6. A sharp peak in a graph.
7. The long, narrow part of a high-heeled shoe that elevates the heel.
8. A long nail for storing papers and, by extension, the metaphorical place where rejected newspaper articles are sent.
9. (volleyball) An attack from, usually, above the height of the net performed with the intent to send the ball straight to the floor of the opponent or off the hands of the opposing block.
10. (zoology) An adolescent male deer.
11. A surge in power.
12. (slang) The casual ward of a workhouse.
13. Spike lavender.
14. (music, lutherie) Synonym of endpin.

Synonyms

• (botany: kind of inflorescence): catkin, raceme, cluster, corymb, umbel