# dyke

/ˈdaɪk/ (US) · /dˈaɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dyke
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. flood barrier

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a long wall or bank of earth built to prevent a river or the sea from flooding an area of low land.

For teachers: an embankment or barrier constructed to prevent the inundation of low-lying land by water.

- The farmers built a high dyke to protect their fields from the rising river.
- The coastal authorities reinforced the ancient dykes to withstand the projected increase in storm surges over the coming decade.

Usage: Often spelled 'dike' in American English.

### 2. geological formation

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a long, thin layer of rock that cuts across other layers of rock.

For teachers: an intrusive body of igneous rock that cuts across the bedding or structural planes of the host rock.

- The hikers could see a dark dyke of volcanic rock cutting through the cliff.
- Geologists identified a vertical basaltic dyke that had intruded into the sedimentary layers during the late Cretaceous period.

### 3. slang for a lesbian

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Vulgar

a slang word for a lesbian, especially one who acts or looks masculine.

For teachers: a slang term for a lesbian, particularly one exhibiting masculine traits; historically derogatory but frequently reclaimed within the LGBTQ+ community.

- She proudly identified as a dyke and wore her hair very short.
- The activist discussed the history of the word dyke and how it was reclaimed by the community in the late twentieth century.

Teaching tip: This word is highly sensitive; it is often offensive when used by people outside the LGBTQ+ community but is used with pride by some insiders.

### 4. a ditch

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Dialect

a narrow hole or channel dug into the ground to carry water away.

For teachers: a ditch or watercourse, particularly one used for drainage or as a boundary marker.

- Water filled the dyke at the edge of the field after the heavy rain.
- The historical map shows a series of dykes used to drain the marshland for agricultural use.

### 5. to build a barrier

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal

to build a wall or bank to protect land from water.

For teachers: to protect or surround a piece of land with an embankment or ditch.

- The engineers plan to dyke the entire marsh to create new farmland.
- The lowlands were extensively dyked during the seventeenth century to facilitate permanent settlement.

## Examples

- The workers built a dyke to protect the village from the rising river.
- Engineers reinforced the coastal dyke system after the storm surge nearly breached the existing defenses last winter.
- The low-lying reclaimed land is protected by an intricate network of dykes and pumping stations that have functioned effectively for centuries.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.