microphone
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a device you speak into to make your voice louder or to record sound.
n.an instrument used to convert sound waves into electrical energy for the purpose of recording or broadcasting.
Simple“The singer stepped up to the microphone and began the first song.”
In context“The podcast host adjusted the microphone on its boom arm to ensure the audio levels remained consistent throughout the interview.”
UsageOften shortened to 'mic' or 'mike' in casual speech and technical contexts.
- 02 C1 Advanced
v.to put a microphone on a person or near an instrument.
v.to arrange or attach microphones to a sound source or within a specific environment.
Simple“The sound crew had to microphone the entire choir before the concert started.”
In context“The engineers decided to microphone the drum kit using a multi-track setup to capture the nuances of the room's natural acoustics.”
UsageCommonly used as the phrasal verb 'mic up' in professional media production.
Synonymsmic up
From micro- + -phone.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.