inflorescence vs spike

inflorescence and spike both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
inflorescence	Yes	No	No	No
spike	Yes	No	Yes	No

As nouns, spike is a hyponym of inflorescence; that is, spike is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than inflorescence:

inflorescence: the flowering part of a plant or arrangement of flowers on a stalk
spike: (botany) an indeterminate inflorescence bearing sessile flowers on an unbranched axis

Other hyponyms of inflorescence include flower head, ament, catkin, umbel, corymb, flower cluster, cyme.

inflorescence (noun)	spike (noun)
the flowering part of a plant or arrangement of flowers on a stalk	sports equipment consisting of a sharp point on the sole of a shoe worn by athletes
the time and process of budding and unfolding of blossoms	a large stout nail
	any holding device consisting of a rigid, sharp-pointed object
	a long, thin sharp-pointed implement (wood or metal)
	a sharp-pointed projection along the top of a fence or wall (or a dinosaur)
	a very high narrow heel on women's shoes
	each of the sharp points on the soles of athletic shoes to prevent slipping (or the shoes themselves)
	a transient variation in voltage or current
	a sharp rise followed by a sharp decline
	(botany) an indeterminate inflorescence bearing sessile flowers on an unbranched axis
	fruiting spike of a cereal plant especially corn

inflorescence (verb)	spike (verb)
	add alcohol to (beverages)
	bring forth a spike or spikes
	manifest a sharp increase
	pierce with a sharp stake or point
	secure with spikes
	stand in the way of