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dike1

Syllabification: (dike)

Pronunciation: /dīk/

(also dyke)

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Definition of dike

noun

1a long wall or embankment built to prevent flooding from the sea.
(often in place names) a low wall or earthwork serving as a boundary or defense:Offa’s Dike
a causeway.
Geology an intrusion of igneous rock cutting across existing strata. Compare with sill.

2a ditch or watercourse.

verb

[with object] (often as adjective diked)

provide (land) with a wall or embankment to prevent flooding.

Phrases

put one's finger in the dike: attempt to stem the advance of something undesirable.
[from a story of a small Dutch boy who saved his community from a flood by placing his finger in a hole in a dike]

Origin:

Middle English (denoting a trench or ditch): from Old Norse dík, related to ditch. dike¹ (sense 1 of the noun) has been influenced by Middle Low German dīk 'dam' and Middle Dutch dijc 'ditch, dam'

Spelling help

Dike can also be spelled dyke: both are correct.

dike in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of dike in the British & World English dictionary

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