mike

1
[ mahyk ]

noun
  1. Also mic. Informal. microphone.

verb (used with object),miked, mik·ing.
  1. 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.
  1. Informal. to use or position a microphone: to mike properly when recording a singer.

Idioms about mike

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

Origin of mike

1
First recorded in 1925–30; by shortening and respelling

Other definitions for mike (2 of 5)

mike2
[ mahyk ]

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

Origin of mike

2
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English; perhaps from Middle Dutch micke “forked support”; further origin uncertain

Other definitions for mike (3 of 5)

mike3
[ mahyk ]

noun
  1. loafing; idling.

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

Origin of mike

3
First recorded in 1815–25; origin uncertain

Other definitions for mike (4 of 5)

mike4
[ mahyk ]

verb (used with object),miked, mik·ing.
  1. to measure with a micrometer.

Origin of mike

4
First recorded in 1920–25; by shortening and respelling of micrometer1

Other definitions for Mike (5 of 5)

Mike
[ mahyk ]

noun
  1. a male given name, form of Michael.

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use mike in a sentence

  • The whole job must have been miked in ten-thousandths, and what's more, whoever made them used metric measurements.

    Murder in the Gunroom | Henry Beam Piper
  • He's got you taped pretty well and knew that if he worked on your sympathies you'd do his work while he miked about.

    Captivity | M. Leonora Eyles

British Dictionary definitions for mike (1 of 2)

mike

/ (maɪk) /


noun
  1. informal short for microphone See also mike up

British Dictionary definitions for Mike (2 of 2)

Mike

/ (maɪk) /


noun
  1. communications a code word for the letter m

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