mike
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a short way to say or write 'microphone'.
n.a colloquial clipping of 'microphone', frequently used in media production and casual speech.
Simple“The singer stepped up to the mike and began the first song.”
In context“Before the broadcast began, the sound engineer checked every mike on the stage to ensure there was no interference.”
UsageOften spelled 'mic' in modern digital contexts, though 'mike' remains standard in many style guides.
PitfallHe spoke into the mic. He spoke into the mike.While 'mic' is now more common in writing, 'mike' is the traditional spelling for this informal noun.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the word used for the letter 'M' when speaking clearly over a radio or phone.
n.the designated code word for the letter M in the NATO/ICAO phonetic alphabet.
Simple“The pilot confirmed the coordinates as Alpha-Mike-Seven.”
In context“To avoid confusion during the storm, the dispatcher spelled out the vessel's name using the phonetic alphabet, ending with 'Mike'.”
UsageAlways capitalized in this context (Mike).
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.a slang word for one minute, often used by soldiers.
n.a slang term for a minute, primarily used in military or tactical communications.
Simple“The squad leader told the team they would move out in five mikes.”
In context“The extraction team estimated their arrival at the landing zone in approximately ten mikes, pending weather conditions.”
Teacher's tipThis is highly specific to military jargon; using it in a business meeting would be confusing or sound like you are pretending to be a soldier.
Synonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to put a microphone on a person or a musical instrument.
v.to equip a person or object with one or more microphones for sound recording or amplification.
Simple“The crew had to mike the actors before the interview could start.”
In context“The technician decided to mike the drum kit using a multi-channel setup to capture the full range of the performance.”
UsageUsually transitive, requiring a direct object.
Synonymswire up
Shortened from Michael.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.