pike
gb/pˈaɪk/ us/pˈaɪk/
B1
English
~ 10000
csuka, pika, fizetős út, csuklott testhelyzet, hegycsúcs, csúcsos magaslat
NOUN
B1
1
csuka
B1
Usage pattern:
to catch [a] pike
He spent the weekend on the lake hoping to hook a record-breaking pike.
A hétvégét a tavon töltötte, abban reménykedve, hogy rekordméretű csukát fog.
The river here is known for its big pike and carp.
Ez a folyószakasz a nagy csukáiról és pontyairól ismert.
As the water warmed up in spring, the pike moved into the shallows to hunt.
They released the pike back into the water after taking a quick photo.
The biologist tagged each pike to track its movements through the wetlands.
Learner examples
He caught a big pike in the lake.
Egy nagy csukát fogott a tóban.
Pike live in cold rivers and lakes.
A csukák hideg vizű folyókban és tavakban élnek.
This river has many pike and other fish.
The pike eats small fish.
She took a picture of the pike and then put it back in the water.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse the word "pike" with "pick" or "spike" in pronunciation and spelling. Also, they may think "pike" means any fish, but it is the name of a specific kind of large freshwater fish.
Meaning
large predatory freshwater fish
Collocations
catch pike
|pike fishing
|a large pike
|northern pike
|pike population
|pike habitat
Synonyms
predatory fish (More general; refers to any fish that eats other fish, not this specific species or group.)
Themes
nature
|food
|hobbies
|animals
Definition
A long, thin fish that lives in lakes and rivers and eats other fish.
A large, long-bodied freshwater fish of the genus Esox, with sharp teeth and a predatory lifestyle, found in lakes and rivers of the Northern Hemisphere.
NOUN
B2
2
pika
B2
Usage pattern:
armed with [a] pike
The soldiers lowered their pikes as the cavalry approached.
A katonák előreszegezték a pikáikat, amikor közeledett a lovasság.
Medieval infantry armed with long pikes could keep horsemen at a distance.
A hosszú pikákkal felfegyverzett középkori gyalogság távol tudta tartani a lovasokat.
He posed in front of the castle holding a replica pike from the museum display.
The reenactors practiced moving in formation with their wooden pikes.
A wall of pikes made it almost impossible for the enemy to break through.
Learner examples
The old soldiers carried long pikes.
A régi idők katonái hosszú pikákat hordtak.
A pike was used as a weapon in the past.
A pikát régen fegyverként használták.
The men stood in a line with their pikes.
The museum shows armor and pikes from a battle.
The knight could not ride through the wall of pikes.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think a "pike" is the same as any modern spear or even a small knife. In history texts, a pike is usually very long and used by groups of soldiers standing close together.
Meaning
long spear-like pole weapon
Collocations
armed with pikes
|a line of pikes
|pike formations
|carry a pike
|pike and shot
|lower their pikes
Synonyms
spear (More general term for a similar weapon; can be shorter and used in many cultures and time periods, while a pike is typically very long and linked to early modern European infantry.)
Themes
history
|war
|weapons
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A long stick with a sharp metal point, used as a weapon by soldiers in the past.
A long pole weapon with a sharp metal point, used historically by infantry soldiers, especially in tightly packed formations.
NOUN
B2
3
fizetős út
B1
Usage pattern:
to take [the] pike to [a place]
We took the pike to avoid the smaller country roads.
A fizetős utat választottuk, hogy elkerüljük a kisebb vidéki utakat.
There's a lot of construction on the pike this summer.
Idén nyáron sok útmunkálat zajlik a fizetős úton.
They live just off the pike, about two miles past the last exit.
Traffic was backed up for miles on the pike after the accident.
It's faster if you stay on the pike until the city limits.
Learner examples
We drove on the pike to the city.
A fizetős úton mentünk a városba.
There was heavy traffic on the pike.
Nagy volt a forgalom a fizetős úton.
They live in a small town just off the pike.
He missed the exit on the pike.
The pike is faster than the local road.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "pike" always means the fish. In some regions, especially in American English, speakers say "the pike" to mean a main road or toll highway. Context about driving or traffic shows this meaning.
Meaning
major road or toll highway
Collocations
on the pike
|take the pike
|get off the pike
|traffic on the pike
|Mass Pike
|state pike
Synonyms
turnpike (More specific to toll roads in American English; often appears in official names like "Pennsylvania Turnpike.")
|
highway (More general word for a major road; may or may not be a toll road.)
Themes
transport
|travel
|infrastructure
|transportation
Definition
A big main road or highway, especially one where you pay money to use it.
A main road or highway, especially a turnpike or toll road, often referred to as "the pike" in regional usage.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
to hold [a] pike
The diver held a tight pike before entering the water.
A műugró feszes csuklott testhelyzetet tartott, mielőtt a vízbe ért.
Your pike needs straighter knees and pointed toes.
A csuklott testhelyzetednél jobban ki kell nyújtanod a térdedet, és spiccben kell tartanod a lábfejedet.
She practiced her pike jumps on the trampoline for twenty minutes.
In this routine you start in a tuck and open into a pike.
The coach demonstrated a proper pike on the floor mats.
Learner examples
The diver makes a pike in the air.
A műugró csuklott testhelyzetet vesz fel a levegőben.
Try to keep your legs straight in the pike.
Próbáld egyenesen tartani a lábadat a csuklott testhelyzetben.
She can do a strong pike jump.
In this move you go from a tuck to a pike.
The coach shows the class how to do a pike.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "pike" in this context is a completely different word from the fish. It is the same spelling but a separate meaning. In sports talk, "pike" almost always means the body position, especially with words like "jump," "dive," or "position."
Meaning
bent-at-hips body position
Collocations
pike position
|pike jump
|pike dive
|tuck and pike
|perfect pike
|hold a pike
Synonyms
pike position (More explicit phrase; the single word "pike" is often used by coaches and athletes as shorthand.)
Themes
sports
|fitness
|body
Definition
In sports like gymnastics and diving, a way of holding the body where the legs are straight and the upper body bends forward at the hips.
In sports such as gymnastics, diving, and cheerleading, a body position in which the legs are kept straight and together while the torso is bent forward sharply at the hips.
NOUN
B2
LITERARY
5
hegycsúcs
B1
Usage pattern:
to climb [a] pike
Mist rolled over the pike as the sun came up.
Ahogy felkelt a nap, köd gomolygott a hegycsúcs fölött.
From the top of the pike, they could see the whole valley below.
A hegycsúcsról belátták az egész völgyet odalent.
Scafell Pike is the highest peak in England.
A narrow path wound its way up the grassy pike.
Dark clouds gathered around the distant pikes on the horizon.
Learner examples
They climbed the pike in the early morning.
Kora reggel felmásztak a hegycsúcsra.
From the pike you can see the sea.
A hegycsúcsról látni lehet a tengert.
Scafell Pike is a famous mountain in England.
Clouds covered the top of the pike.
There is a small village at the foot of the pike.
Common mistake:
Learners often meet this word only in place names like "Scafell Pike" and may not realize it means a pointed hill or mountain. Outside those names, "peak" is much more common in modern English.
Meaning
pointed mountain or hill
Collocations
rocky pike
|steep pike
|climb the pike
|Scafell Pike
|the highest pike
|windswept pike
Synonyms
peak (More widely used general word; "pike" is more regional or literary and especially common in some British place names.)
Antonyms
valley (Refers to low land between hills or mountains, the natural opposite of a high pointed hill or mountain.)
Themes
geography
|nature
|outdoors
|space
Definition
A high, sharp hill or mountain, often used in names of mountains.
A high, pointed hill or mountain, especially as used in place names in some English dialects.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pike
IPA
GB/pˈaɪk/
US/pˈaɪk/
Syllables & stress
pike (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (pike)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: pike
- Plural: pike, pikes
Word family
Forms
pikes
noun
Expressions
down the pike
1/dˈaʊn ðə pˈaɪk/
idiom
in the future; coming soon
Used to say that something is going to happen in the future or is on its way.
Examples
- Big changes are coming down the pike for this company.
- There are more layoffs down the pike if sales don’t improve.
- No one knows what new technologies are heading down the pike next year.
pike jump
1/pˈaɪk d͡ʒˈʌmp/
fixed phrase
technical
jump using pike position
A jump in sports like gymnastics, cheerleading, or trampoline where you hold your body in a pike position in the air.
Examples
- She added a pike jump to the end of her routine.
- Your pike jump needs more height and a sharper bend at the hips.
- The coach asked them to practice ten pike jumps in a row.
pike on
1/pˈaɪk ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
slang
cancel or not show up for someone
To cancel plans with someone or not come when you said you would, often at the last minute. (Mainly Australian and New Zealand English.)
Examples
- She piked on us and didn’t show up for dinner.
- Don’t pike on your friends just because you’re tired.
- He felt annoyed that they piked on him again.
pike out
1/pˈaɪk ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
slang
cancel or back out of plans
To decide not to do something that you said you would do, often because you are scared, shy, or do not feel like it. (Mainly Australian and New Zealand English.)
Examples
- He piked out at the last minute and didn’t come to the party.
- Don’t pike out now—we’ve already bought the tickets.
- She always pikes out when it’s time to do something difficult.
pike position
1/pˈaɪk pəzˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
gymnastics or diving body shape
In sports like gymnastics and diving, a way of holding your body where your legs are straight and together and your upper body bends forward at the hips.
Examples
- The diver entered the water from a tight pike position.
- Hold your pike position longer before you open out of the jump.
- Her pike position has improved a lot this season.