mike
noun
Also microphone.
mike
1 American
[mahyk]
/ maɪk /
noun
verb (used with object)
miked,
miking
verb (used without object)
miked,
miking
idioms
mike
2
American
[mahyk]
/ maɪk /
noun
mike
3
American
[mahyk]
/ maɪk /
noun
verb (used without object)
miked,
miking
mike
4
American
[mahyk]
/ maɪk /
noun
verb (used with object)
miked,
miking
Mike
5
American
[mahyk]
/ maɪk /
noun
-
a male given name, form of Michael.
-
(lowercase) a word used in communications to represent the letter M.
Mike
1
British
/ maɪk /
noun
mike
2
British
/ maɪk /
noun
Etymology
Origin of mike1
First recorded in 1925–30; by shortening and respelling
Origin of mike2
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English; perhaps from Middle Dutch micke “forked support”; further origin uncertain
Origin of mike3
First recorded in 1815–25; origin uncertain
Origin of mike4
First recorded in 1920–25; by shortening and respelling of micrometer 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“I never go out and look to grab the mike or go in front of the TV camera. When I go to work everyday, I check my ego at the door.”
From Washington Times ● Dec. 27, 2023
For his encore Joel rose from behind his piano and grabbed a mike on a stand to belt out “Uptown Girl” and “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” as his band cranked the guitars.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 12, 2023
“The mike ‘backer, I see it as the quarterback role on the defense.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2022
Yet even with its flaws, the film, by bringing a character like Bri into the cadre of battle rap, is a welcome update to the male bravado types we’re used to seeing dominate the mike.
From New York Times ● Sep. 22, 2022
“Are we good to go?” roared Root into his mike, as though it wasn’t whisper-sensitive.
From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer
In a phone interview, Anang Mittal, an Indian-American who has worked for Sen. Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Mike Johnson, summed up Mr. Trump’s appeal to voters like him.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
"But that's not been the story at all," said director Mike Beck.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
Mike Chadwick and his wife have been looking to buy a beach house in Rhode Island for the last year.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026
In perhaps the highest-profile contest, former public health official Abdul El-Sayed is facing Republican Mike Rogers for the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
He hadn’t been this scared since Mike told Susan he wanted a purebred.
From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein
Given the size of the venue, Kaufmann was miked.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 27, 2023
In a 2,500-seat auditorium, having a full string section play it is far more effective than a miked string quartet.
From New York Times ● Jan. 13, 2023
For a key scene captured in a single take between Tár and a student in a lecture hall, Winke miked the actors and hid a microphone in the piano.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2022
Not only are the actors miked, but each of the instruments is as well.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 29, 2022
Also, once the actors are miked, he doesn’t want Zach biting into an apple and having an audible crunch bounce off the auditorium walls.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
On-set sound mixer Steven Morrow recalls it as a terrifying proposition — miking 200 chorus and orchestra members performing live in an echoey cathedral.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 19, 2024
The Village Vanguard, the venerable Greenwich Village basement club, has started weekly livestreams of top-tier small groups that observe masking and social-distancing guidelines, with studio-quality miking and detailed camera work that illuminates the music.
From New York Times ● Jul. 21, 2020
“There was no proscenium. I couldn’t do scene changes. There was no pit, so the band had to be up and visible. There was no point in miking, because the theatre was too small.”
From The New Yorker ● Sep. 17, 2018
Vocal standouts, despite that harsh miking, include soaring sopranos Jennifer Bromagen, Megan Chenovick and Rachel DeShon, all playing multiple roles.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 14, 2014
T'aint no good miking a fuss about it, yer know, guv'nor!
From Mr. Punch's Cockney Humour by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
