mike

[mahyk]

noun

Also mic. Informal. microphone.

verb (used with object), miked, mik·ing.

Informal. to supply or amplify with one or more microphones; attach a microphone to: to mike a singer.

verb (used without object), miked, mik·ing.

Informal. to use or position a microphone: to mike properly when recording a singer.

Idioms

drop the mike, Informal. mic(def 2).

Origin of mike

First recorded in 1925–30; by shortening and respelling

mike

[mahyk]

noun

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

Origin of mike

1300–50; Middle English; perhaps < Middle Dutch micke forked instrument

mike

[mahyk]British Slang.

noun

loafing; idling.

verb (used without object), miked, mik·ing.

to loaf.

Origin of mike

First recorded in 1815–25; origin uncertain

mike

⁴

[mahyk]

noun

micrometer¹(def 2).

verb (used with object), miked, mik·ing.

to measure with a micrometer.

Origin of mike

⁴

by shortening and respelling of micrometer¹

Mike

[mahyk]

noun

a male given name, form of Michael.

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

Mansfield

[manz-feeld]

noun

KatherineKathleen Beauchamp Murry, 1888–1923, English short-story writer.

Michael JosephMike, 1903–2001, U.S. politician: senator 1953–77.

Richard,1857–1907, U.S. actor, born in Germany.

Mount, a mountain in N Vermont: highest peak of the Green Mountains, 4393 feet (1339 meters).

a city in W Nottinghamshire, in central England.

a city in N Ohio.

a town in N Connecticut.

a town in SE Massachusetts.

Schmidt

[shmit]

noun

Hel·mut (Hein·rich Wal·de·mar)

[hel-moo t hahyn-rik vahl-duh-mahr; German hel-moot hahyn-rikh vahl-duh-mahr] /ˈhɛl mʊt ˈhaɪn rɪk ˈvɑl dəˌmɑr; German ˈhɛl mut ˈhaɪn rɪx ˈvɑl dəˌmɑr/, born 1918, West German political leader: chancellor 1974–82.

Michael JackMike, born 1949, U.S. baseball player.

Tyson

[tahy-suh n]

noun

Michael GeraldMikeIron Mike, born 1966, U.S. boxer.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for mike

Contemporary Examples of mike

And now, similarly, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee: "Bend over and take it like a prisoner!"
Huckabee 2016: Bend Over and Take It Like a Prisoner!
Olivia Nuzzi
January 8, 2015
And similar shards of enthusiasm-killing kryptonite are lodged in John Kasich, Mike Pence and Ted Cruz.
Why This Liberal Hearts Huckabee
Sally Kohn
January 6, 2015
Democrats would be mistaken to underestimate Mike Huckabee, perhaps the strongest Republican presidential contender.
Why This Liberal Hearts Huckabee
Sally Kohn
January 6, 2015
On the Democratic side, many expect former Rep. Mike McMahon to make another run at the seat.
The Felon Who Wouldn’t Leave Congress
Ben Jacobs, David Freedlander
December 23, 2014
Like Mike Tyson says, you have a great fight plan until you come out and take the first punch.
How Will Cuba Play In Peoria?
Eleanor Clift
December 21, 2014

Historical Examples of mike

He was Mike Gaynor, a trainer, and more than once Porter had stood his friend.
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser
On Mike's face was a map of disaster; the disaster might be trivial or great.
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser
May we see the horses, Mike—are they having their lie-down, or anything?
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser
They visited all the other stalls, eight of them, and listened to Mike's eulogies on the inmates.
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser
"Miss Porter'll tell ye about this wan," said Mike, diplomatically.
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser

British Dictionary definitions for mike

mike

noun

informal short for microphone See also mike up

Mike

noun

communications a code word for the letter m

Mansfield

noun

a town in central England, in W Nottinghamshire: former coal-mining and cotton-textiles industries. Pop: 69 987 (2001)

Mansfield

noun

Katherine, real name Kathleen Mansfield Beauchamp. 1888–1923, British writer, born in New Zealand, noted for her short stories, such as those in Bliss (1920) and The Garden Party (1922)

Schmidt

noun

Helmut (Heinrich Waldemar) (ˈhɛlmuːt). born 1918, German Social Democrat statesman; chancellor of West Germany (1974–82)

Tyson

noun

Mike. born 1966, US boxer. World heavyweight champion (1986–90, and 1996): jailed for rape (1992–95) and assault (1999); banned from professional boxing (1997–98) after biting off part of his opponent's ear

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for mike

Schmidt

type of astronomical telescope lens used for photography, 1939, from Estonian-born German optician Bernhard Voldemar Schmidt (1879-1935), who invented it.