What does the -ED suffix in hiked do to meaning of base word?

The "-ed" suffix in "hiked" indicates the past tense of the verb "hike". It tells us that the action of hiking happened in the past.

Here's a breakdown:

* hike: The base verb, meaning to walk, especially for a long distance, often in the countryside.

* hiked: The past tense of the verb, meaning the act of hiking was completed in the past.

For example:

* "I am going to hike to the top of the mountain." (present tense)

* "We hiked for miles yesterday." (past tense)