dyke
noun(also dike)
The spelling dike is preferred in (North American English) in senses 1 and 2. a long thick wall that is built to stop water flooding onto a low area of land, especially from the sea 堰；堤；坝 During the 1997 floods the sea broke through the dyke. 1997年洪水期间，海水冲破了堤坝。
- (especially British English)
a channel that carries water away from the land 渠；沟；壕沟 The first dykes were cut in the Middle Ages. 第一条堤坝是在中世纪开凿的。 Wind pumps were built at intervals on the dykes. 在堤坝上每隔一段时间就建造一个抽水机。
- (taboo, slang)
a word for a lesbian that is usually offensive 女同性恋者（常意含冒犯）
Word Originsenses 1 to 2 Middle English (denoting a trench or ditch): from Old Norse dík, related to ditch. Sense (1) has been influenced by Middle Low German dīk ‘dam’ and Middle Dutch dijc ‘ditch, dam’. sense 3 1940s (earlier as bulldyke): of unknown origin.