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sphinx /sf I ŋks/ (sphinxes ) also Sphinx N‑COUNT The Sphinx is a large ancient statue of a creature with a human head and a lion's body that stands near the pyramids in Egypt. In mythology, sphinxes gave people puzzles to solve, and so a person who is mysterious or puzzling is sometimes referred to as a sphinx .

spice /spa I s/ (spices , spicing , spiced )

1 N‑VAR A spice is a part of a plant, or a powder made from that part, which you put in food to give it flavour. Cinnamon, ginger, and paprika are spices. □  …herbs and spices. □  …a row of spice jars.

2 VERB If you spice something that you say or do, you add excitement or interest to it. □ [V n + with ] They spiced their conversations and discussions with intrigue. ● PHRASAL VERB Spice up means the same as spice . □ [V P n] Her publisher wants her to spice up her stories with sex. □ [V n P ] …a discovery which spiced the conversation up quite a bit.

3 N‑UNCOUNT Spice is something which makes life more exciting. □  To add spice to the debate, they disagreed about method and ideology.

▸  spice up → see spice 2

spiced /spa I st/ ADJ [usu adv ADJ ] Food that is spiced has had spices or other strong-tasting foods added to it. □  …delicately spiced sauces.

spick and span /sp I k ənd spæ n/ also spick-and-span ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] A place that is spick and span is very clean and tidy. □  The apartment was spick and span.

spicy /spa I si/ (spicier , spiciest ) ADJ Spicy food is strongly flavoured with spices. □  Thai food is hot and spicy. □  …a spicy tomato and coriander sauce.

spi|der /spa I də ^r / (spiders ) N‑COUNT A spider is a small creature with eight legs. Most types of spider make structures called webs in which they catch insects for food.

spi|dery /spa I dəri/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something such as handwriting as spidery , you mean that it consists of thin, dark, pointed lines. □  He saw her spidery writing on the envelope.

spiel /ʃpiː l, [AM ] spiː l/ (spiels ) N‑COUNT Someone's spiel is a well-prepared speech that they make, and that they have usually made many times before, often in order to persuade you to buy something. [INFORMAL ]

spif|fing /sp I f I ŋ/ ADJ If someone describes something such as news or an event as spiffing , they mean that it is very good. [BRIT , INFORMAL , OLD-FASHIONED ] □  I came to give your mother a piece of perfectly spiffing news.

spig|ot /sp I gət/ (spigots ) N‑COUNT A spigot is a faucet or tap. [AM ]

spike /spa I k/ (spikes )

1 N‑COUNT A spike is a long piece of metal with a sharp point. □  …a 15-foot wall topped with iron spikes. □  Yellowing receipts had been impaled on a metal spike.

2 N‑COUNT Any long pointed object can be referred to as a spike . □  Her hair stood out in spikes. □ [+ of ] …a long spike of white flowers.

3 N‑COUNT If there is a spike in the price, volume, or amount of something, the price, volume, or amount of it suddenly increases. □ [+ in ] During the war, there was a small spike in interest.

4 N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Spikes are a pair of sports shoes with pointed pieces of metal attached to the soles. They help runners' feet to grip the ground when they are running.

5 → see also spiked

spiked /spa I kt/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is spiked has one or more spikes on it. □  …spiked railings.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If someone has spiked hair, their hair is short and sticks up all over their head.

3 → see also spike

spi ke hee ls N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Spike heels are women's shoes with very high narrow heels. [AM ] in BRIT, use stilettos

spiky /spa I ki/ ADJ Something that is spiky has one or more sharp points. □  Her short spiky hair is damp with sweat. □  …tall, spiky evergreen trees.