dyke
word
Definition
A thick wall or embankment built to hold back water and prevent flooding, especially along rivers or coastlines. Common in low-lying areas like the Netherlands, where dykes protect land that is below sea level.
Usage & Nuances
Also spelled 'dike' (more common in American English). Common collocations: 'build a dyke,' 'breach in the dyke,' 'sea dyke.' The famous story of the 'boy who stuck his finger in the dyke' refers to this meaning. In geology, a 'dyke' (or 'dike') also refers to a sheet of rock that cuts through other rock layers, but this meaning is technical. Can also refer to a ditch or channel in some regional British dialects.
Example Sentences
The dyke protects the village from river flooding.
basic
The Netherlands has thousands of dykes along its coastline.
basic
Workers repaired the dyke before the rainy season started.
basic
There's a breach in the dyke — if we don't fix it now, the whole area will flood.
natural
They've been reinforcing the sea dykes ever since that devastating storm in 2018.
natural
Without the dyke system, half of this country would be underwater.
natural