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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

The usual method is to mike the principals and lay in group effects in post.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 19, 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

I wanted to just be center stage, mike stand, no bells and whistles, and just say to people, “This is why I’m still here. I can still strip it back.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 21, 2023

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

Back in front of the mike, Country Joe launched into “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag.”

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge

“I think this is a new coalition built by Nithya Raman based on age,” said Mike Trujillo, a Democratic consultant who supported Bass in the race.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026

A change in the political backdrop “matters because AI infrastructure names, especially semiconductors and memory, are the key drivers of S&P 500 earnings growth,” said Mike O’Rourke, chief market strategist at JonesTrading.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 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

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan's US Senate race over former Republican lawmaker Mike Rogers, US networks said early Wednesday, making him the first Muslim elected to the upper chamber of Congress.

From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026

Jonesy’s mouth falls open again as Mike Winslow turns all the way around in his seat, fully engaged now.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell

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

And I don’t remember whether they miked me up there or just took the audio from the camera.

From Slate ● Apr. 7, 2021

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

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

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