adjective · rare

spiky

spiky · spikier · spikiest

колючий

stachelig, stachlig

Of a plant: producing spikesOf a plant: producing spikes (“ears (as of corn); inflorescences in which sessile flowers are arranged on unbranched elongated axes”).

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/ˈspaɪki/

» Ziri's ivy has big spiky leaves.

Meaning

7 senses

(not comparable, usually)Of a plant: producing spikes (“ears (as of corn); inflorescences in which sessile flowers are arranged on unbranched elongated axes”).
(comparable, not comparable, usually)Of a plant part: resembling a spike of a plant (see above).
Having one or more spikes; spiny.
stachelig, stachlig
having or as if having especially high-pitched spots
Resembling spikes: erect and having sharp points; spikelike.
(figuratively)Of a person or their nature: difficult to deal with; abrasive, hostile, unfriendly.
a spiky personality
(figuratively)Of a thing: not smooth; rough, sharp.
(derogatory, figuratively, slang)Excessively high church (“practising a formal style of liturgy and emphasizing continuity with Catholicism”).

Examples

6 sentences

Ziri's ivy has big spiky leaves.
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The leaves of this ivy are very spiky.
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Tom has spiky hair.
deTom hat stachelige Haare.
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Tom has spiky blond hair.
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Ziri's ivy has spiky leaves.
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Translations

5 languages

Deutsch

By meaning 1

having one or more spikes — see also spiny:

Origin

From spike (“kind of inflorescence in which sessile flowers are arranged on an unbranched

From spike (“kind of inflorescence in which sessile flowers are arranged on an unbranched elongated axis”) + -y (suffix forming adjectives with the sense “having the quality of”). Spike is derived from Middle English spik, spike (“ear of grain; clove of garlic; plant having spikes; plant of the genus Valeriana, especially Valeriana officinalis; plant of the genus Lavandula, lavender”), from Latin spīca (“ear, head, or spike of grain; plant spike”) (feminine) (also rarely spīcum (neuter) and spīcus (masculine)), possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *spey- (“long; sharp; thin”).

From spike (“piece of pointed metal, etc.”) + -y (suffix forming adjectives with the sense “having the quality of”). Spike is derived from Middle English spik, spike (“large metal (usually iron) nail; thing shaped like such a nail”); further etymology uncertain, possibly from Middle Dutch spiker (“large nail”), Middle Low German spiker (“large nail”), or Old Norse spík (“spike; sprig”), all possibly from Latin spīca (“ear, head, or spike of grain; plant spike”) (see further at etymology 1), or from Proto-Germanic *spīkō (“large nail, spike”), both ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *spey- (“long; sharp; thin”).

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