What's the meaning of “spike” in the context of “adrenaline spike”?












3















What's the meaning of “spike” in the context of “adrenaline spike”? how does it relate to the meaning of “dump” in the context of “adrenaline dump”? and which of the two is the correct version?










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    Welcome to ELL.SE. As a reminder, questions posed on Stack Exchange should demonstrate some initial research efforts; looking up spike in Macmillan Dictionary, for example, directly gives the meaning a sudden increase in something.

    – choster
    yesterday











  • Related question

    – laugh
    yesterday
















3















What's the meaning of “spike” in the context of “adrenaline spike”? how does it relate to the meaning of “dump” in the context of “adrenaline dump”? and which of the two is the correct version?










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  • 3





    Welcome to ELL.SE. As a reminder, questions posed on Stack Exchange should demonstrate some initial research efforts; looking up spike in Macmillan Dictionary, for example, directly gives the meaning a sudden increase in something.

    – choster
    yesterday











  • Related question

    – laugh
    yesterday














3












3








3


1






What's the meaning of “spike” in the context of “adrenaline spike”? how does it relate to the meaning of “dump” in the context of “adrenaline dump”? and which of the two is the correct version?










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What's the meaning of “spike” in the context of “adrenaline spike”? how does it relate to the meaning of “dump” in the context of “adrenaline dump”? and which of the two is the correct version?







expressions technical






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edited yesterday









SamBC

12.1k1545




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asked yesterday









user91380user91380

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  • 3





    Welcome to ELL.SE. As a reminder, questions posed on Stack Exchange should demonstrate some initial research efforts; looking up spike in Macmillan Dictionary, for example, directly gives the meaning a sudden increase in something.

    – choster
    yesterday











  • Related question

    – laugh
    yesterday














  • 3





    Welcome to ELL.SE. As a reminder, questions posed on Stack Exchange should demonstrate some initial research efforts; looking up spike in Macmillan Dictionary, for example, directly gives the meaning a sudden increase in something.

    – choster
    yesterday











  • Related question

    – laugh
    yesterday








3




3





Welcome to ELL.SE. As a reminder, questions posed on Stack Exchange should demonstrate some initial research efforts; looking up spike in Macmillan Dictionary, for example, directly gives the meaning a sudden increase in something.

– choster
yesterday





Welcome to ELL.SE. As a reminder, questions posed on Stack Exchange should demonstrate some initial research efforts; looking up spike in Macmillan Dictionary, for example, directly gives the meaning a sudden increase in something.

– choster
yesterday













Related question

– laugh
yesterday





Related question

– laugh
yesterday










5 Answers
5






active

oldest

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13














One refers to a spike in a measurement, or a sharp rise (often followed by a fall that may not be as sharp, but is clear). This is because such measurements would be drawn with a moving needle on paper, or otherwise graphed after the fact, and the spike looks like, well, a spike.



Thus, in an adrenaline spike the level of adrenaline in a person's system has risen sharply, and may not be sustained. We don't generally have ongoing measurement of things like that, but it means that if we did have that sort of ongoing measurement, the graph would show a visible spike.



An adrenaline dump is also a sharp rise in adrenaline, speaking figuratively as the adrenal glands "dumping" a load of adrenaline into your system all at once.



Both of those terms are 'correct', they are just looking at it from a different perspective.



If you're really being a purist about the terminology, a spike shouldn't be sustained, whereas a dump might be. In practice, they are used reasonably interchangeably, in my experience.






share|improve this answer





















  • 1





    The adrenaline dump causes a spike in it's blood level.

    – RonJohn
    yesterday



















9














The term comes from the appearance on a graph. There are four main spikes in the following picture.




spike



6 a : a pointed element in a graph or tracing



https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spike




enter image description here






share|improve this answer































    3














    Spike in this context means a sharp increase in the magnitude or concentration of something.



    Adrenaline spike would indicate an increase in adrenaline production






    share|improve this answer



















    • 2





      It might be worth noting that a spike in this context relates to the measurement of something by a measurement device and the output of that device on a graph. A spike indicates the device has detected whatever it is trying to detect.

      – Sarriesfan
      yesterday











    • @Sarriesfan That may be the origin, but we often use it to refer to the thing being measured as well. You can say that a runner experiences an adrenaline spike when he's nearing the finish line, even if he's not connected to a measuring device.

      – Barmar
      yesterday











    • @Barmar that why I suggested that it was worth noted the term spike comes from this original source.

      – Sarriesfan
      yesterday











    • @Sarriesfan I thought you were suggesting a correction to the answer. There are already several other answers that explain the relationship with measurements, including one that actually shows the graphics.

      – Barmar
      yesterday











    • @Barmar those answers were not there when I first made the comment 10hrs ago, SamBC answers was posted 9hrs ago.

      – Sarriesfan
      yesterday



















    1














    An adrenaline rush is when one experiences a sudden increase in the hormone adrenaline (also known as epinephrine). Apparently adrenaline dump has the same meaning, as I see from looking this up, though I’ve never heard dump used in this context. I guess spike (or surge) could be used as a synonym of one of those other words. However, as an American native speaker, the only one I’d say and that I think is most idiomatic is adrenaline rush. Also, if you’re asking what this means, it’s a biological process in response to fear and/or excitement. You might get this feeling while riding on a roller coaster or while skydiving, for example.






    share|improve this answer
























    • What you describe is indeed an adrenaline rush (more info here), but the question is about the word spike, which is a sharp increase followed by a sharp decrease, as illustrated in this related WordReference answer. The terms adrenaline rush and adrenaline spike (and also adrenaline dump) may refer to the same phenomena, but the meaning is not the same - "rush" does not describe a fast decrease.

      – laugh
      yesterday











    • @laugh I agree with your definition of spike in general- a sudden increase followed by a sudden decrease. None of (rush, dump, or surge) imply a sharp decrease. But what about a spike in blood glucose? I believe this refers to a sharp increase that is sustained, whose long term effects are dangerous. In other words, it seems to me that certain words are used loosely in medical contexts. Therefore, as you say, an adrenaline rush and an adrenaline spike may refer to the same phenomenon.

      – Mixolydian
      yesterday



















    1














    In practice, a spike in something really refers to any abrupt increase, even if the decrease afterwards is not abrupt. The visual image definitely is a time-series plot where you would see a spike-like projection if there was a rapid increase and a rapid decrease afterwards. But people are more concerned about the consequences of any rapid increase, so the term came to be used more broadly.



    If you imagine a graph depicting the rate of change, rather than the level of the quantity, then an abrupt increase followed by a leveling off or a decline will always look like a spike. But I am not sure people thought it through in that much detail.






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      5 Answers
      5






      active

      oldest

      votes








      5 Answers
      5






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      13














      One refers to a spike in a measurement, or a sharp rise (often followed by a fall that may not be as sharp, but is clear). This is because such measurements would be drawn with a moving needle on paper, or otherwise graphed after the fact, and the spike looks like, well, a spike.



      Thus, in an adrenaline spike the level of adrenaline in a person's system has risen sharply, and may not be sustained. We don't generally have ongoing measurement of things like that, but it means that if we did have that sort of ongoing measurement, the graph would show a visible spike.



      An adrenaline dump is also a sharp rise in adrenaline, speaking figuratively as the adrenal glands "dumping" a load of adrenaline into your system all at once.



      Both of those terms are 'correct', they are just looking at it from a different perspective.



      If you're really being a purist about the terminology, a spike shouldn't be sustained, whereas a dump might be. In practice, they are used reasonably interchangeably, in my experience.






      share|improve this answer





















      • 1





        The adrenaline dump causes a spike in it's blood level.

        – RonJohn
        yesterday
















      13














      One refers to a spike in a measurement, or a sharp rise (often followed by a fall that may not be as sharp, but is clear). This is because such measurements would be drawn with a moving needle on paper, or otherwise graphed after the fact, and the spike looks like, well, a spike.



      Thus, in an adrenaline spike the level of adrenaline in a person's system has risen sharply, and may not be sustained. We don't generally have ongoing measurement of things like that, but it means that if we did have that sort of ongoing measurement, the graph would show a visible spike.



      An adrenaline dump is also a sharp rise in adrenaline, speaking figuratively as the adrenal glands "dumping" a load of adrenaline into your system all at once.



      Both of those terms are 'correct', they are just looking at it from a different perspective.



      If you're really being a purist about the terminology, a spike shouldn't be sustained, whereas a dump might be. In practice, they are used reasonably interchangeably, in my experience.






      share|improve this answer





















      • 1





        The adrenaline dump causes a spike in it's blood level.

        – RonJohn
        yesterday














      13












      13








      13







      One refers to a spike in a measurement, or a sharp rise (often followed by a fall that may not be as sharp, but is clear). This is because such measurements would be drawn with a moving needle on paper, or otherwise graphed after the fact, and the spike looks like, well, a spike.



      Thus, in an adrenaline spike the level of adrenaline in a person's system has risen sharply, and may not be sustained. We don't generally have ongoing measurement of things like that, but it means that if we did have that sort of ongoing measurement, the graph would show a visible spike.



      An adrenaline dump is also a sharp rise in adrenaline, speaking figuratively as the adrenal glands "dumping" a load of adrenaline into your system all at once.



      Both of those terms are 'correct', they are just looking at it from a different perspective.



      If you're really being a purist about the terminology, a spike shouldn't be sustained, whereas a dump might be. In practice, they are used reasonably interchangeably, in my experience.






      share|improve this answer















      One refers to a spike in a measurement, or a sharp rise (often followed by a fall that may not be as sharp, but is clear). This is because such measurements would be drawn with a moving needle on paper, or otherwise graphed after the fact, and the spike looks like, well, a spike.



      Thus, in an adrenaline spike the level of adrenaline in a person's system has risen sharply, and may not be sustained. We don't generally have ongoing measurement of things like that, but it means that if we did have that sort of ongoing measurement, the graph would show a visible spike.



      An adrenaline dump is also a sharp rise in adrenaline, speaking figuratively as the adrenal glands "dumping" a load of adrenaline into your system all at once.



      Both of those terms are 'correct', they are just looking at it from a different perspective.



      If you're really being a purist about the terminology, a spike shouldn't be sustained, whereas a dump might be. In practice, they are used reasonably interchangeably, in my experience.







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited yesterday

























      answered yesterday









      SamBCSamBC

      12.1k1545




      12.1k1545








      • 1





        The adrenaline dump causes a spike in it's blood level.

        – RonJohn
        yesterday














      • 1





        The adrenaline dump causes a spike in it's blood level.

        – RonJohn
        yesterday








      1




      1





      The adrenaline dump causes a spike in it's blood level.

      – RonJohn
      yesterday





      The adrenaline dump causes a spike in it's blood level.

      – RonJohn
      yesterday













      9














      The term comes from the appearance on a graph. There are four main spikes in the following picture.




      spike



      6 a : a pointed element in a graph or tracing



      https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spike




      enter image description here






      share|improve this answer




























        9














        The term comes from the appearance on a graph. There are four main spikes in the following picture.




        spike



        6 a : a pointed element in a graph or tracing



        https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spike




        enter image description here






        share|improve this answer


























          9












          9








          9







          The term comes from the appearance on a graph. There are four main spikes in the following picture.




          spike



          6 a : a pointed element in a graph or tracing



          https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spike




          enter image description here






          share|improve this answer













          The term comes from the appearance on a graph. There are four main spikes in the following picture.




          spike



          6 a : a pointed element in a graph or tracing



          https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spike




          enter image description here







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered yesterday









          chasly from UKchasly from UK

          2,277312




          2,277312























              3














              Spike in this context means a sharp increase in the magnitude or concentration of something.



              Adrenaline spike would indicate an increase in adrenaline production






              share|improve this answer



















              • 2





                It might be worth noting that a spike in this context relates to the measurement of something by a measurement device and the output of that device on a graph. A spike indicates the device has detected whatever it is trying to detect.

                – Sarriesfan
                yesterday











              • @Sarriesfan That may be the origin, but we often use it to refer to the thing being measured as well. You can say that a runner experiences an adrenaline spike when he's nearing the finish line, even if he's not connected to a measuring device.

                – Barmar
                yesterday











              • @Barmar that why I suggested that it was worth noted the term spike comes from this original source.

                – Sarriesfan
                yesterday











              • @Sarriesfan I thought you were suggesting a correction to the answer. There are already several other answers that explain the relationship with measurements, including one that actually shows the graphics.

                – Barmar
                yesterday











              • @Barmar those answers were not there when I first made the comment 10hrs ago, SamBC answers was posted 9hrs ago.

                – Sarriesfan
                yesterday
















              3














              Spike in this context means a sharp increase in the magnitude or concentration of something.



              Adrenaline spike would indicate an increase in adrenaline production






              share|improve this answer



















              • 2





                It might be worth noting that a spike in this context relates to the measurement of something by a measurement device and the output of that device on a graph. A spike indicates the device has detected whatever it is trying to detect.

                – Sarriesfan
                yesterday











              • @Sarriesfan That may be the origin, but we often use it to refer to the thing being measured as well. You can say that a runner experiences an adrenaline spike when he's nearing the finish line, even if he's not connected to a measuring device.

                – Barmar
                yesterday











              • @Barmar that why I suggested that it was worth noted the term spike comes from this original source.

                – Sarriesfan
                yesterday











              • @Sarriesfan I thought you were suggesting a correction to the answer. There are already several other answers that explain the relationship with measurements, including one that actually shows the graphics.

                – Barmar
                yesterday











              • @Barmar those answers were not there when I first made the comment 10hrs ago, SamBC answers was posted 9hrs ago.

                – Sarriesfan
                yesterday














              3












              3








              3







              Spike in this context means a sharp increase in the magnitude or concentration of something.



              Adrenaline spike would indicate an increase in adrenaline production






              share|improve this answer













              Spike in this context means a sharp increase in the magnitude or concentration of something.



              Adrenaline spike would indicate an increase in adrenaline production







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered yesterday









              eefareefar

              4729




              4729








              • 2





                It might be worth noting that a spike in this context relates to the measurement of something by a measurement device and the output of that device on a graph. A spike indicates the device has detected whatever it is trying to detect.

                – Sarriesfan
                yesterday











              • @Sarriesfan That may be the origin, but we often use it to refer to the thing being measured as well. You can say that a runner experiences an adrenaline spike when he's nearing the finish line, even if he's not connected to a measuring device.

                – Barmar
                yesterday











              • @Barmar that why I suggested that it was worth noted the term spike comes from this original source.

                – Sarriesfan
                yesterday











              • @Sarriesfan I thought you were suggesting a correction to the answer. There are already several other answers that explain the relationship with measurements, including one that actually shows the graphics.

                – Barmar
                yesterday











              • @Barmar those answers were not there when I first made the comment 10hrs ago, SamBC answers was posted 9hrs ago.

                – Sarriesfan
                yesterday














              • 2





                It might be worth noting that a spike in this context relates to the measurement of something by a measurement device and the output of that device on a graph. A spike indicates the device has detected whatever it is trying to detect.

                – Sarriesfan
                yesterday











              • @Sarriesfan That may be the origin, but we often use it to refer to the thing being measured as well. You can say that a runner experiences an adrenaline spike when he's nearing the finish line, even if he's not connected to a measuring device.

                – Barmar
                yesterday











              • @Barmar that why I suggested that it was worth noted the term spike comes from this original source.

                – Sarriesfan
                yesterday











              • @Sarriesfan I thought you were suggesting a correction to the answer. There are already several other answers that explain the relationship with measurements, including one that actually shows the graphics.

                – Barmar
                yesterday











              • @Barmar those answers were not there when I first made the comment 10hrs ago, SamBC answers was posted 9hrs ago.

                – Sarriesfan
                yesterday








              2




              2





              It might be worth noting that a spike in this context relates to the measurement of something by a measurement device and the output of that device on a graph. A spike indicates the device has detected whatever it is trying to detect.

              – Sarriesfan
              yesterday





              It might be worth noting that a spike in this context relates to the measurement of something by a measurement device and the output of that device on a graph. A spike indicates the device has detected whatever it is trying to detect.

              – Sarriesfan
              yesterday













              @Sarriesfan That may be the origin, but we often use it to refer to the thing being measured as well. You can say that a runner experiences an adrenaline spike when he's nearing the finish line, even if he's not connected to a measuring device.

              – Barmar
              yesterday





              @Sarriesfan That may be the origin, but we often use it to refer to the thing being measured as well. You can say that a runner experiences an adrenaline spike when he's nearing the finish line, even if he's not connected to a measuring device.

              – Barmar
              yesterday













              @Barmar that why I suggested that it was worth noted the term spike comes from this original source.

              – Sarriesfan
              yesterday





              @Barmar that why I suggested that it was worth noted the term spike comes from this original source.

              – Sarriesfan
              yesterday













              @Sarriesfan I thought you were suggesting a correction to the answer. There are already several other answers that explain the relationship with measurements, including one that actually shows the graphics.

              – Barmar
              yesterday





              @Sarriesfan I thought you were suggesting a correction to the answer. There are already several other answers that explain the relationship with measurements, including one that actually shows the graphics.

              – Barmar
              yesterday













              @Barmar those answers were not there when I first made the comment 10hrs ago, SamBC answers was posted 9hrs ago.

              – Sarriesfan
              yesterday





              @Barmar those answers were not there when I first made the comment 10hrs ago, SamBC answers was posted 9hrs ago.

              – Sarriesfan
              yesterday











              1














              An adrenaline rush is when one experiences a sudden increase in the hormone adrenaline (also known as epinephrine). Apparently adrenaline dump has the same meaning, as I see from looking this up, though I’ve never heard dump used in this context. I guess spike (or surge) could be used as a synonym of one of those other words. However, as an American native speaker, the only one I’d say and that I think is most idiomatic is adrenaline rush. Also, if you’re asking what this means, it’s a biological process in response to fear and/or excitement. You might get this feeling while riding on a roller coaster or while skydiving, for example.






              share|improve this answer
























              • What you describe is indeed an adrenaline rush (more info here), but the question is about the word spike, which is a sharp increase followed by a sharp decrease, as illustrated in this related WordReference answer. The terms adrenaline rush and adrenaline spike (and also adrenaline dump) may refer to the same phenomena, but the meaning is not the same - "rush" does not describe a fast decrease.

                – laugh
                yesterday











              • @laugh I agree with your definition of spike in general- a sudden increase followed by a sudden decrease. None of (rush, dump, or surge) imply a sharp decrease. But what about a spike in blood glucose? I believe this refers to a sharp increase that is sustained, whose long term effects are dangerous. In other words, it seems to me that certain words are used loosely in medical contexts. Therefore, as you say, an adrenaline rush and an adrenaline spike may refer to the same phenomenon.

                – Mixolydian
                yesterday
















              1














              An adrenaline rush is when one experiences a sudden increase in the hormone adrenaline (also known as epinephrine). Apparently adrenaline dump has the same meaning, as I see from looking this up, though I’ve never heard dump used in this context. I guess spike (or surge) could be used as a synonym of one of those other words. However, as an American native speaker, the only one I’d say and that I think is most idiomatic is adrenaline rush. Also, if you’re asking what this means, it’s a biological process in response to fear and/or excitement. You might get this feeling while riding on a roller coaster or while skydiving, for example.






              share|improve this answer
























              • What you describe is indeed an adrenaline rush (more info here), but the question is about the word spike, which is a sharp increase followed by a sharp decrease, as illustrated in this related WordReference answer. The terms adrenaline rush and adrenaline spike (and also adrenaline dump) may refer to the same phenomena, but the meaning is not the same - "rush" does not describe a fast decrease.

                – laugh
                yesterday











              • @laugh I agree with your definition of spike in general- a sudden increase followed by a sudden decrease. None of (rush, dump, or surge) imply a sharp decrease. But what about a spike in blood glucose? I believe this refers to a sharp increase that is sustained, whose long term effects are dangerous. In other words, it seems to me that certain words are used loosely in medical contexts. Therefore, as you say, an adrenaline rush and an adrenaline spike may refer to the same phenomenon.

                – Mixolydian
                yesterday














              1












              1








              1







              An adrenaline rush is when one experiences a sudden increase in the hormone adrenaline (also known as epinephrine). Apparently adrenaline dump has the same meaning, as I see from looking this up, though I’ve never heard dump used in this context. I guess spike (or surge) could be used as a synonym of one of those other words. However, as an American native speaker, the only one I’d say and that I think is most idiomatic is adrenaline rush. Also, if you’re asking what this means, it’s a biological process in response to fear and/or excitement. You might get this feeling while riding on a roller coaster or while skydiving, for example.






              share|improve this answer













              An adrenaline rush is when one experiences a sudden increase in the hormone adrenaline (also known as epinephrine). Apparently adrenaline dump has the same meaning, as I see from looking this up, though I’ve never heard dump used in this context. I guess spike (or surge) could be used as a synonym of one of those other words. However, as an American native speaker, the only one I’d say and that I think is most idiomatic is adrenaline rush. Also, if you’re asking what this means, it’s a biological process in response to fear and/or excitement. You might get this feeling while riding on a roller coaster or while skydiving, for example.







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered yesterday









              MixolydianMixolydian

              2,958511




              2,958511













              • What you describe is indeed an adrenaline rush (more info here), but the question is about the word spike, which is a sharp increase followed by a sharp decrease, as illustrated in this related WordReference answer. The terms adrenaline rush and adrenaline spike (and also adrenaline dump) may refer to the same phenomena, but the meaning is not the same - "rush" does not describe a fast decrease.

                – laugh
                yesterday











              • @laugh I agree with your definition of spike in general- a sudden increase followed by a sudden decrease. None of (rush, dump, or surge) imply a sharp decrease. But what about a spike in blood glucose? I believe this refers to a sharp increase that is sustained, whose long term effects are dangerous. In other words, it seems to me that certain words are used loosely in medical contexts. Therefore, as you say, an adrenaline rush and an adrenaline spike may refer to the same phenomenon.

                – Mixolydian
                yesterday



















              • What you describe is indeed an adrenaline rush (more info here), but the question is about the word spike, which is a sharp increase followed by a sharp decrease, as illustrated in this related WordReference answer. The terms adrenaline rush and adrenaline spike (and also adrenaline dump) may refer to the same phenomena, but the meaning is not the same - "rush" does not describe a fast decrease.

                – laugh
                yesterday











              • @laugh I agree with your definition of spike in general- a sudden increase followed by a sudden decrease. None of (rush, dump, or surge) imply a sharp decrease. But what about a spike in blood glucose? I believe this refers to a sharp increase that is sustained, whose long term effects are dangerous. In other words, it seems to me that certain words are used loosely in medical contexts. Therefore, as you say, an adrenaline rush and an adrenaline spike may refer to the same phenomenon.

                – Mixolydian
                yesterday

















              What you describe is indeed an adrenaline rush (more info here), but the question is about the word spike, which is a sharp increase followed by a sharp decrease, as illustrated in this related WordReference answer. The terms adrenaline rush and adrenaline spike (and also adrenaline dump) may refer to the same phenomena, but the meaning is not the same - "rush" does not describe a fast decrease.

              – laugh
              yesterday





              What you describe is indeed an adrenaline rush (more info here), but the question is about the word spike, which is a sharp increase followed by a sharp decrease, as illustrated in this related WordReference answer. The terms adrenaline rush and adrenaline spike (and also adrenaline dump) may refer to the same phenomena, but the meaning is not the same - "rush" does not describe a fast decrease.

              – laugh
              yesterday













              @laugh I agree with your definition of spike in general- a sudden increase followed by a sudden decrease. None of (rush, dump, or surge) imply a sharp decrease. But what about a spike in blood glucose? I believe this refers to a sharp increase that is sustained, whose long term effects are dangerous. In other words, it seems to me that certain words are used loosely in medical contexts. Therefore, as you say, an adrenaline rush and an adrenaline spike may refer to the same phenomenon.

              – Mixolydian
              yesterday





              @laugh I agree with your definition of spike in general- a sudden increase followed by a sudden decrease. None of (rush, dump, or surge) imply a sharp decrease. But what about a spike in blood glucose? I believe this refers to a sharp increase that is sustained, whose long term effects are dangerous. In other words, it seems to me that certain words are used loosely in medical contexts. Therefore, as you say, an adrenaline rush and an adrenaline spike may refer to the same phenomenon.

              – Mixolydian
              yesterday











              1














              In practice, a spike in something really refers to any abrupt increase, even if the decrease afterwards is not abrupt. The visual image definitely is a time-series plot where you would see a spike-like projection if there was a rapid increase and a rapid decrease afterwards. But people are more concerned about the consequences of any rapid increase, so the term came to be used more broadly.



              If you imagine a graph depicting the rate of change, rather than the level of the quantity, then an abrupt increase followed by a leveling off or a decline will always look like a spike. But I am not sure people thought it through in that much detail.






              share|improve this answer




























                1














                In practice, a spike in something really refers to any abrupt increase, even if the decrease afterwards is not abrupt. The visual image definitely is a time-series plot where you would see a spike-like projection if there was a rapid increase and a rapid decrease afterwards. But people are more concerned about the consequences of any rapid increase, so the term came to be used more broadly.



                If you imagine a graph depicting the rate of change, rather than the level of the quantity, then an abrupt increase followed by a leveling off or a decline will always look like a spike. But I am not sure people thought it through in that much detail.






                share|improve this answer


























                  1












                  1








                  1







                  In practice, a spike in something really refers to any abrupt increase, even if the decrease afterwards is not abrupt. The visual image definitely is a time-series plot where you would see a spike-like projection if there was a rapid increase and a rapid decrease afterwards. But people are more concerned about the consequences of any rapid increase, so the term came to be used more broadly.



                  If you imagine a graph depicting the rate of change, rather than the level of the quantity, then an abrupt increase followed by a leveling off or a decline will always look like a spike. But I am not sure people thought it through in that much detail.






                  share|improve this answer













                  In practice, a spike in something really refers to any abrupt increase, even if the decrease afterwards is not abrupt. The visual image definitely is a time-series plot where you would see a spike-like projection if there was a rapid increase and a rapid decrease afterwards. But people are more concerned about the consequences of any rapid increase, so the term came to be used more broadly.



                  If you imagine a graph depicting the rate of change, rather than the level of the quantity, then an abrupt increase followed by a leveling off or a decline will always look like a spike. But I am not sure people thought it through in that much detail.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered yesterday









                  Mark FoskeyMark Foskey

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