noun
Uncommon
dyke
DYK
Dyke (noun) means a raised bank of earth or stone built to hold back water and prevent flooding. Example: “The Dutch have relied on dykes for centuries to keep the sea out.”
noun
1
A raised bank of earth or stone built to hold back water and prevent flooding.
"The Dutch have relied on dykes for centuries to keep the sea out."
"Heavy rain caused the river to rise close to the top of the dyke."
2
A ditch or channel dug to drain or carry water.
"Fenland farmers cut dykes across the flat fields to drain them."
verb
1
To build an embankment around, or protect with one.
"They worked through the night to dyke the swollen river."
How to use dyke
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA wall or bank of earth built to stop water flooding onto land, or the ditch dug alongside it.
When to use it
The word is also used, sometimes as a slur and sometimes reclaimed within the LGBTQ+ community, as slang for a lesbian — that sense is highly context-dependent and can be offensive outside of self-description.
Common pairings
build a dyke
flood dyke
sea dyke
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Word forms
- Plural
- dykes
- Third person singular
- dykes
- Past tense
- dyked
Etymology
A variant spelling of "dike", tracing back through Middle English to Old Norse díki, meaning a ditch.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for dyke
See all rhymes for dyke →Frequently asked questions
What does “dyke” mean?
The word “dyke” means a raised bank of earth or stone built to hold back water and prevent flooding. In plain terms, a wall or bank of earth built to stop water flooding onto land, or the ditch dug alongside it.
How do you pronounce “dyke”?
“Dyke” is pronounced DYK (/ˈdaɪ̯k/ in IPA).
How do you use “dyke” in a sentence?
Here is “dyke” used in a sentence: “The Dutch have relied on dykes for centuries to keep the sea out.”
What is another word for “dyke”?
Words with a similar meaning to “dyke” include ditch, trench, fosse, bank, embankment and earthwork.
What part of speech is “dyke”?
Depending on how it is used, “dyke” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “dyke” come from?
The word “dyke” comes from Middle English. A variant spelling of "dike", tracing back through Middle English to Old Norse díki, meaning a ditch.
Is “dyke” a common word?
“Dyke” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “dyke” have?
“Dyke” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a raised bank of earth or stone built to hold back water and prevent flooding.
