mike
nounverbnounnountop 1 000 in film dialogue
- //ˈmaɪk//
A microphone.
noun
- 1
informalA microphone.
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, […]
1981, John Swaigen, How to Fight for What’s Right: The Guide to Public Interest Law, James Lorimer & Company, →ISBN, pages 118–119, Obviously, one must watch what one says in the vicinity of a microphone. More than one person has made a “private” statement in the presence of an open mike.
2007, John Sellers, Perfect from Now On: How Indie Rock Saved My Life, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 85, When the haggard bartender informed us that there would be an open-mike event later in the evening, I got my first sense that not everyone in Manchester cared about the music the city has produced.
Etymology
Alteration of mic, clipping of microphone. Attested since 1927.
verb
- 1
To microphone; to place one or more microphones (mikes) on.
1996, J.R. Robinson, quoted in Mark Huntly Parsons, The Drummer’s Studio Survival Guide: How to get the best possible drum tracks on any recording project, Hal Leonard, →ISBN, page 72, He knows me, I know him, and I know how he’s going to mike the drums and what selection of mic’s he's going to use.
2006, Glenn Haertlein, Project Vectus, Lulu, →ISBN, page 108, “Zeb, is everything go on the AV equipment?” I heard Jim ask. ¶ “Yep,” Zeb replied. “I just need to mike him up.” […] “All set,” he said once he clipped the wireless microphone to my shirtfront.
- 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.
noun
- 1
slangA minute.
We'll be there in one zero mikes [i.e. ten minutes].
- 2
Variant of Mike from the NATO/ICAO Phonetic AlphabetAlternative letter-case form of Mike from the NATO/ICAO Phonetic Alphabet.
Etymology
From translingual Mike, representing the letter m, from English Mike.
noun
- 1
Variant of microgramslangClipping of microgram.
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.
Forms
- plural
- mikes
- past tense
- miked
- past participle
- miked
- present participle
- miking
- third person singular
- mikes