microphone

American  

[mahy-kruh-fohn] / ˈmaɪ krəˌfoʊn /

noun

• microphones
  plural

1. an instrument capable of transforming sound waves into changes in electric currents or voltage, used in recording or transmitting sound.

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microphone British  

/ ˈmaɪkrəˌfəʊn /

noun

1. Informal name: mike.  a device used in sound-reproduction systems for converting sound into electrical energy, usually by means of a ribbon or diaphragm set into motion by the sound waves. The vibrations are converted into the equivalent audio-frequency electric currents See also carbon microphone Compare loudspeaker

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• microphones
  plural

Etymology

Origin of microphone

1875–80; micro-, in sense “enlarging” (extracted from microscope ) + -phone

Explanation

A microphone is an electric device that amplifies the sound of a voice or instrument. If you're going to stand up in front of a large crowd and want to be heard, you better use a microphone. Microphones require electricity and amplifiers to work — what they do is take a sound and convert it into an electrical signal. That signal can then be amplified and sent to a speaker or recorded. Performers can sing softly into a microphone and still be heard clearly by an audience member at the very back of a huge concert hall. The popularity of radio and film inspired this meaning of microphone — originally, the word meant "ear trumpet for the hard-of-hearing."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

microphone microphones

Just as important as Kiffin’s ability to light up scoreboards was his knack for using any microphone within earshot to stir up attention.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

Upon retiring in 1992, Smith Jr. moved behind a microphone, teaming with Scott Kaplan on a popular radio show on the Mighty 1090, a station that went off the air in 2019.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026

He choked up and stepped away from the microphone, before adding: "It's my brothers. I don't want to talk about it."

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

Known as oto-acoustic emissions, these sounds can be detected by placing a sensitive microphone inside the ear canal.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 19, 2026

Each was allotted a specific amount of time, and Amelie had been deadly serious when she told them the microphone would be turned off if they went so much as one second over.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

Journalists crowd together in the hope of hearing from him, microphones are thrust into the air and camera operators stretch above the crowd for the briefest glimpse of the game's biggest star.

From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026

His recording technique was “subjective,” as he put it, placing microphones to either side of the drums or piano so that we hear them as the musician does when playing them.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026

AFP joined conservationists, rangers and locals this month as they retrieved and replaced cameras and microphones in the forest.

From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026

How will he react when 185 million microphones are pointed at him?

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026

All the security men were equipped with radio microphones, and in the front row, Mrs. Jones had control.

From "Stormbreaker" by Anthony Horowitz