spike

n 1: a transient variation in voltage or current

2: sharp point on the sole of shoe worn by athletes; spikes

provide greater traction

3: fruiting spike of a cereal plant especially corn [syn: {ear},

{capitulum}]

4: (botany) an indeterminate inflorescence bearing sessile

flowers on an unbranched axis

5: a sharp-pointed projection along the top of a fence or wall

6: a long sharp-pointed implement (wood or metal)

7: any long sharp-pointed object used as a fastener or holder

8: a long metal nail

v 1: stand in the way of

2: pierce with a sharp stake or point; "impale a shrimp on a

skewer" [syn: {transfix}, {impale}, {empale}]

3: secure with spikes

4: bring forth a spike or spikes, as of flowers, such as

hyacinths [syn: {spike out}]

5: add alcohol beverages [syn: {lace}, {fortify}]

spike

To defeat a selection mechanism by introducing a

(sometimes temporary) device that forces a specific result.

The word is used in several industries; telephone engineers

refer to spiking a relay by inserting a pin to hold the relay

in either the closed or open state, and railroaders refer to

spiking a track switch so that it cannot be moved. In

programming environments it normally refers to a temporary

change, usually for testing purposes (as opposed to a

permanent change, which would be called {hard-coded}).

(1999-10-18)