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• mike
  mike

  noun

  Also microphone.
• Mike
  Mike

  noun

  a male given name, form of Michael.

mike

¹ American  

[mahyk] / maɪk /

noun

1. Informal. Also microphone.

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verb (used with object)

miked, miking

1. Informal. to supply or amplify with one or more microphones; attach a microphone to.

   to mike a singer.

verb (used without object)

miked, miking

1. Informal. to use or position a microphone.

   to mike properly when recording a singer.

idioms

1. drop the mike, mic.

mike ² American  

[mahyk] / maɪk /

noun

1. a forklike support for a light cannon on a sailing ship.

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mike ³ American  

[mahyk] / maɪk /

noun

1. loafing; idling.

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verb (used without object)

miked, miking

1. to loaf.

mike ⁴ American  

[mahyk] / maɪk /

noun

1. micrometer.

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verb (used with object)

miked, miking

1. to measure with a micrometer.

Mike ⁵ American  

[mahyk] / maɪk /

noun

1. a male given name, form of Michael.

2. (lowercase) a word used in communications to represent the letter M.

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Mike ¹ British  

/ maɪk /

noun

1. communications a code word for the letter m

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mike ² British  

/ maɪk /

noun

1. informal short for microphone See also mike up

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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

See Examples For:

mike Mike miked miking

“We like Ike” was turned into Roy O. Disney’s hugely successful animated TV campaign commercial, “I Like Ike,” helping the guy good at the mike win in a landslide over Adlai Stevenson.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 15, 2024

“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

“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

Also weighing in on Monday was a team of Morgan Stanley strategists led by Mike Wilson, who said after the 20% correction for semiconductors, investors should expect a bounce.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026

Mike Pence—previously House Republican Conference chairman—practically camped out on the Hill during key policy debates like the 2017 tax reform.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026

Some delays were due to shifts under the 2020 legislation that the FAA had to undertake for the first time, said Boeing Senior Vice President Mike Sinnett.

From Barron's ● Jul. 16, 2026

Salvadoran referee Iván Barton immediately pointed to the spot and Oyarzabal stepped up and obliged, beating French keeper Mike Maignan into the side netting at the right post for his fifth goal of the tournament.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

But Mike Burry was holed up in his office in San Jose, California, and wasn’t talking to anyone.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Given the size of the venue, Kaufmann was miked.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 27, 2023

Every instrument sounds individually miked, and the balances done in the editing room meant to underscore a sense of massive egotism.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 25, 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

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

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

Balance may not always have been perfect, given the difficulty of miking singers when they are on the move.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 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