dyke up
C1 neutral separable transitive
In simple words
To put up a wall or bank of earth to stop water from flooding an area.
Literal meaning: To build up a dyke (an earthen wall or embankment used to control water).
Meanings
1 C1 neutral
To construct a dyke or embankment to hold back or redirect water.
"The local authority dyked up the riverbank to prevent seasonal flooding in the village."
Grammar: separable
2 C1 neutral
To strengthen or raise an existing dyke so it can better resist water pressure.
"After the near-flood last winter, they spent the summer dyking up the weakest sections of the sea wall."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Technical term used mainly in civil engineering, hydrology, and agriculture. More prevalent in British and Dutch English. Virtually absent from everyday conversation.
Commonly used with
river coast bank shoreline embankment channel
Forms
Base
dyke up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
dykes up
he/she/it
Past simple
dyked up
yesterday
Past participle
dyked up
have + pp
-ing form
dyking up
continuous
Understand "dyke up" better
Try:
Real video examples
Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.
Want to master this phrasal verb?
Practice "dyke up" on Looplines