First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1dike
noun \ˈdīk\
: a long narrow hole that is dug in the ground to carry water : a ditch or trench
: a bank or mound of earth that is built to control water and especially to protect an area from flooding
Full Definition of DIKE
1
: an artificial watercourse : ditch
2
a : a bank usually of earth constructed to control or confine water : levee b : a barrier preventing passage especially of something undesirable
3
a : a raised causeway b : a tabular body of igneous rock that has been injected while molten into a fissure
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Origin of DIKE
Middle English, probably from Old Norse dīk ditch and Middle Low German dīk dam; akin to Old English dīc ditch — more at ditch
Related to DIKE
- Synonyms
- dam, embankment, head, levee
Other Civil Engineering Terms
2dike
verb
dikeddik·ing
Definition of DIKE
transitive verb
1
: to surround or protect with a dike
2
: to drain by a dike
— dik·er noun
First Known Use of DIKE
14th century
Other Civil Engineering Terms
3dike
Definition of DIKE
variant of dyke
DIKE[1] Defined for Kids
dike
noun \ˈdīk\
Definition of DIKE for Kids
1
: a long trench dug in the earth to carry water
2
: a mound of earth built to control water
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