- informal
short for microphone
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
mike1 /maɪk/USA pronunciation
n., v., miked, mik•ing.
n. [countable]
v. [~ + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026n. [countable]
- Informal Termsa microphone.
v. [~ + object]
- Informal Termsto supply with a microphone:to mike a singer.
mike1
(mīk),USA pronunciation n., v., miked, mik•ing.
n.
v.t.
v.i.
mike2 (mīk),USA pronunciation n.
mike3 (mīk),USA pronunciation n., v., miked, mik•ing. [Brit. Slang.]
n.
v.i.
mike4 (mīk),USA pronunciation n., v., miked, mik•ing.
n.
v.t.
Mike (mīk),USA pronunciation n.
n.
- Informal TermsAlso, mic. a microphone.
v.t.
- Informal Termsto supply or amplify with one or more microphones;
attach a microphone to:to mike a singer.
v.i.
- Informal Termsto use or position a microphone:to mike properly when recording a singer.
- by shortening and respelling, respelled
mike2 (mīk),USA pronunciation n.
- a forklike support for a light cannon on a sailing ship.
- Middle Dutch micke forked instrument
- 1300–50; Middle English; perh.
mike3 (mīk),USA pronunciation n., v., miked, mik•ing. [Brit. Slang.]
n.
- British Termsloafing;
idling.
v.i.
- British Termsto loaf.
- origin, originally uncertain 1815–25
mike4 (mīk),USA pronunciation n., v., miked, mik•ing.
n.
- micrometer1 (def. 2).
v.t.
- to measure with a micrometer.
- by shortening and respelling, respelled of micrometer
Mike (mīk),USA pronunciation n.
- a male given name, form of Michael.
- Telecommunications(l.c.) a word used in communications to represent the letter M.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
mike /maɪk/ n
'mike' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Atherton
- Hailwood
- Leigh
- McKenna
- Spillane
- acronym
- body mike
- lapel mike
- lap microphone
- Mansfield
- micrometer
- mike fright
- Mike-Mike
- off-mike
- on-mike