dike
Translation
dike, levee, ditch
Examples
The dike protects the town from floods.
The dike protects the town from floods.
They dug a dike to drain the field.
They dug a dike to drain the field.
Grammar Patterns
((a/the)) dike a wall built to prevent a river or the sea from flooding an area The dike protects the town from floods.
((a/the)) dike a long, narrow hole dug at the side of a field or road, to hold or carry away water They dug a dike to drain the field.
Similar Words
Synonyms: levee, embankment (for flood barrier); ditch, trench (for channel)
Etymology
From Old English 'dīc', meaning 'ditch, trench, earthwork'. It is related to the verb 'to dig'.
Memory Tips
Think of the famous story of the Dutch boy who put his finger in a dike to stop a leak.