1) A earthen slope or wall that is used to regulate water levels (levee/dike)
2) Originally used as a negative slur towards lesbians, this term has now grown to referring a specific type of lesbian. (another related word to this would be fellagirly, brought on by Elvira Kurt.) The "butch look, femme attitude" has recently taken definition to the term dyke by the LGBT community.
2b. While this is currently true, many other-generational LGBT members find dyke to be very derogatory and hurtful.
Additionally, if the word is used by an LGBT
individual, it is taken as joke/
description/word.
However, if a non-LGBT
individual uses such a word towards a lesbian, it is thought to evoke similar reactions as would nigger to a black person (or so on and so forth)
1)
Hurricane Katrina devastated the country when it broke through New Orleans' dyke.
2) One lesbian to another: "I don't really like the polar-extremed butch or femme lesbians; I more prefer the stereotypical dykes like
Ellen DeGeneres,
Katherine Moennig and Mandana Jones (Nikki Wade from Bad Girls)"
2b. A non-LGBT member insulting a lesbian: "Wow, you're such a dyke."