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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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mike Mike miked miking

Cut the mike on that lyrical Irish accent and we will RIOT.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2025

“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

Before the game, Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke had taken the mike and exhorted the crowd to “blow the roof off this joint.”

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 22, 2023

Reaching for the mike, I angle it toward me again.

From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins

“Nuisance Bear” is partly narrated by one such affected elder, Mike Tunalaaq Gibbons.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

Vance putting out a surprisingly candid assessment of the Republican Party’s losses, while House Speaker Mike Johnson publicly acknowledged that the party had lost control of the House.

From Slate ● Nov. 5, 2026

Mike Novogratz, the billionaire CEO of the crypto business Galaxy Digital, can afford the high life.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would not seek re-election as the party's leader in the chamber.

From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026

By the end of 2004, Mike Burry was managing $600 million and turning money away.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

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

Not only are the actors miked, but each of the instruments is as well.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 29, 2022

It all sounds good — pretty and pulpy and rich, with singing miked close enough to catch every theatrically sincere voice crack.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 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 singer is an emotionally extravagant Erika Stiedry-Wagner, who fought with the composer over miking.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 2020

Fliakos’s miking, gives his voice a slightly disembodied quality.

From New York Times ● Oct. 13, 2019

“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

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