Mike

//ˈmaɪk// name, noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A diminutive of the male given name Michael. countable

    "West Virginia Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin was not impressed with the executive orders, calling them a “troubling example” of executive overreach that “could harm us for generations.”"

  2. 2
    A diminutive of the female given name Michaela. countable
Noun
  1. 1
    A microphone. informal

    "1970, Theodore Sturgeon and Edward H. Waldo, "The Pod in the Barrier", in A Touch of Strange, Ayer Publishing, →ISBN, page 28, "Then I say to the recording, for the record," I barked, right into the mike, […]"

  2. 2
    Alternative letter-case form of Mike from the NATO/ICAO Phonetic Alphabet. alt-of
  3. 3
    Clipping of microgram. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, slang

    "The beginner's dose may be anywhere from 100 to 250 mikes — micrograms, or millionths of a gram. Most hardened heads need 600 to 800 mikes, and some as many as 1,400 mikes, before they experience any sensation of getting off."

  4. 4
    A radiotelephony clear-code word for the letter M.
  5. 5
    An Irishman, especially a labourer. slang

    "[…] very hard work, a holy day — & the boys went on to […] & took the Mikes, so I cd get no helper but Marty — had to set up Punch & Judy show — & when I proposed to decorate tree heard it was still in the woods! However John Rourke appeared & dug up a small silver, to be planted again […]"

Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    device for converting sound waves into electrical energy wordnet
  2. 7
    A minute. slang

    "We'll be there in one zero mikes [i.e. ten minutes]."

Verb
  1. 1
    To microphone; to place one or more microphones (mikes) on.

    "1994 September, Jim Gaines, transcribed in Alan di Perna, "Step Lively: Recalling the recording process of SRV’s IN STEP with album producer Jim Gaines", in Guitar World Magazine, reprinted in Guitar World Presents Stevie Ray Vaughan: Stevie Ray In His Own Words, Hal Leonard (1997), →ISBN, page 81, “And sometimes I’d just have to mike the room. You could run into some weird phasing problems with the individual mics because the speakers were all reacting differently.”"

  2. 2
    To measure using a micrometer.

    "1983, Tom S. Wilson, How to Rebuild Your Big-block Chevy, HPBooks, →ISBN, page 98, Measure Valve-Stem Diameter—To be positive about it you’ll have to mike the valve stem with a 1-in. micrometer as explained on pages 100 and 101."

Etymology

Etymology 1

Alteration of mic, clipping of microphone. Attested since 1927.

Etymology 2

Alteration of mic, clipping of microphone. Attested since 1927.

Etymology 3

From translingual Mike, representing the letter m, from English Mike.

Etymology 4

Shortened from Michael.

Etymology 5

Shortened from Michael.

Etymology 6

Shortened from Michael.

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