DYKE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does dyke mean? 

• DYKE (noun)
  The noun DYKE has 2 senses:

1. (slang) offensive term for a lesbian who is noticeably masculine

2. a barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea

  Familiarity information: DYKE used as a noun is rare.

• DYKE (verb)
  The verb DYKE has 1 sense:

1. enclose with a dike

  Familiarity information: DYKE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DYKE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(slang) offensive term for a lesbian who is noticeably masculine

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

butch; dike; dyke

Hypernyms ("dyke" is a kind of...):

gay woman; lesbian; tribade (a female homosexual)

Domain usage:

depreciation; derogation; disparagement (a communication that belittles somebody or something)

argot; cant; jargon; lingo; patois; slang; vernacular (a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves))

Sense 2

Meaning:

A barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

dam; dike; dyke

Hypernyms ("dyke" is a kind of...):

barrier (a structure or object that impedes free movement)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dyke"):

milldam (dam to make a millpond to provide power for a water mill)

weir (a low dam built across a stream to raise its level or divert its flow)

Instance hyponyms:

Aswan High Dam; High Dam (one of the world's largest dams on the Nile River in southern Egypt)

Glen Canyon Dam (a large dam built in 1964 on the Colorado River in Arizona)

Hoover Dam (a large dam built in 1933 on the Colorado River in Nevada)

Derivation:

dyke (enclose with a dike)

• DYKE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they dyke    ... he / she / it dykes   
Past simple: dyked   
Past participle: dyked   
-ing form: dyking   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Enclose with a dike

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

dike; dyke

Context example:

dike the land to protect it from water

Hypernyms (to "dyke" is one way to...):

close in; enclose; inclose; shut in (surround completely)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

dyke (a barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea)

 Context examples 

If her uncle was turned out of house and home, and forced to lay down in a dyke, Mas'r Davy, said Mr. Peggotty, with no less pride than before, it's my belief she'd go along with him, now!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)