What does microphone mean?

Definitions for microphone
ˈmaɪ krəˌfoʊnmi·cro·phone

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word microphone.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. microphone, mikenoun

    device for converting sound waves into electrical energy

GCIDE

  1. microphonenoun

    An instrument for converting sounds into electrical signals, for the purpose of recording or amplifying the sounds. It produces its effects in various ways, as for example by the changes of intensity in an electric current, occasioned by the variations in the contact resistance of conducting bodies, especially of imperfect conductors, under the action of acoustic vibrations. Other forms of microphone may use changes in capacitance or other phenomena to transduce the sounds into electrical signals. The electrical signals produced in a microphone may be transmitted to recording or amplifying equipment through a conducting wire, or by transmission as radio waves. The latter method is popular for use in small mobile microphones used by performers in plays and other entertainment events, at public meetings, and by broadcast personnel.

Wiktionary

  1. microphonenoun

    A device (transducer) used to convert sound waves into a varying electric current; normally fed into an amplifier and either recorded or broadcast.

  2. microphoneverb

    To put one or more microphones on or in.

Wikipedia

  1. Microphone

    A microphone, colloquially called a mic or mike (), is a device – a transducer – that converts sound into an electrical signal. Microphones are used in many applications such as telephones, hearing aids, public address systems for concert halls and public events, motion picture production, live and recorded audio engineering, sound recording, two-way radios, megaphones, radio and television broadcasting. They are also used in computers for recording voice, speech recognition, VoIP, and for non-acoustic purposes such as ultrasonic sensors or knock sensors. Several types of microphone are used today, which employ different methods to convert the air pressure variations of a sound wave to an electrical signal. The most common are the dynamic microphone, which uses a coil of wire suspended in a magnetic field; the condenser microphone, which uses the vibrating diaphragm as a capacitor plate; and the contact microphone, which uses a crystal of piezoelectric material. Microphones typically need to be connected to a preamplifier before the signal can be recorded or reproduced.

ChatGPT

  1. microphone

    A microphone is an electronic device that converts sound waves into electrical signals so they can be amplified, recorded, or transmitted to another device such as a loudspeaker or a recording device. They're often used in various applications like telephones, public addressing systems, concert halls, television broadcasting, and in computers for recording voice.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Microphonenoun

    an instrument for intensifying and making audible very feeble sounds. It produces its effects by the changes of intensity in an electric current, occasioned by the variations in the contact resistance of conducting bodies, especially of imperfect conductors, under the action of acoustic vibrations

  2. Etymology: [Micro- + Gr. fwnh` sound, voice: cf. F. microphone.]

Wikidata

  1. Microphone

    A microphone is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. Microphones are used in many applications such as telephones, tape recorders, karaoke systems, hearing aids, motion picture production, live and recorded audio engineering, FRS radios, megaphones, in radio and television broadcasting and in computers for recording voice, speech recognition, VoIP, and for non-acoustic purposes such as ultrasonic checking or knock sensors. Most microphones today use electromagnetic induction, capacitance change, piezoelectric generation, or light modulation to produce an electrical voltage signal from mechanical vibration.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Microphone

    mī′krō-fōn, n. an instrument which renders the faintest sounds distinctly audible.—adjs. Microphon′ic, Microph′onous.—n. Mī′crophony. [Gr. mikros, little, phōnē, sound.]

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

  1. Microphone

    an instrument invented in 1878 by Professor Hughes, and consisting of charcoal tempered in mercury, which intensifies and renders audible the faintest possible sound.

The Standard Electrical Dictionary

  1. Microphone

    An apparatus which includes a contact of variable resistance; such resistance can be varied in amount by slight vibrations, such as those produced by sound waves. The apparatus in use forms part of a circuit including a telephone and current generator. As the contact is varied the resistance of the circuit and consequently the current intensity changes and sounds are emitted by the telephone corresponding to such changes. If the microphone is spoken to, the telephone will emit corresponding sounds, reproducing the voice. It has been found in practice that carbon gives the best microphone contact. One of the simplest and earliest forms is shown in the cut. A short rod or pencil of carbon, A, such as used in batteries, is sharpened at the ends and rests loosely in a vertical position between two blocks of carbon, C C, in each of which a hole is drilled to receive one of the points. The blocks are carried on a standard and base D. The blocks are connected with two terminals x, y, of a circuit, including a telephone and battery. There are two contacts to be disturbed. If delicately adjusted a fly walking over the base-board will disturb the contacts enough to produce sounds in the telephone. These sounds are possibly not due only to sound waves, but in part to absolute mechanical disturbances. The various forms of telephone transmitter are generally microphones.

Suggested Resources

  1. microphone

    The microphone symbol -- In this Symbols.com article you will learn about the meaning of the microphone symbol and its characteristic.

Matched Categories

British National Corpus

  1. Written Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'microphone' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2218

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

How to pronounce microphone?

How to say microphone in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of microphone in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of microphone in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of microphone in a Sentence

  1. Charles McDiarmid:

    We are so close to the ocean, and when the tides are high and a storm is in full force, the water will actually come up right under The Pointe Restaurant, where wehave an exterior laser microphone that brings the sound of the crashing waves right into the restaurant in real time and full stereo.

  2. Tom Hanks:

    Ive done the Marie Kondo-izing of much of my life, I must say, i found this microphone. Thats one thing. I didnt even realize I had this microphone. So Im glad it was in the original box, so I pulled it out. But I got to say, if I win one hand of Solitaire, I immediately try to see if I can get two in a row, so Im busy. I am very, very busy enough.

  3. Stutchman Forensic Lab in California:

    It is clear that there were other individuals in close enough proximity to the caller to be picked up by Austin McGeough phone’s microphone.

  4. Ronald Reagan:

    My fellow Americans I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes. (Comment while testing a microphone before a broadcast 11 Aug 84)

  5. Jeffrey McCall:

    Sure, it's New Year's Eve and some lighthearted revelry is in order, but the Cohen outburst just didn't belong on the once-proud cable channel.And once Cohen's rant took off, nobody in the production center apparently had enough sense to cut his microphone or switch to another shot, when you let the hosts get out of control, the channel should expect some out of control content.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

microphone#1#8238#10000

Translations for microphone

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

Get even more translations for microphone »

Translation

Find a translation for the microphone definition in other languages:

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Word of the Day

Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?

Please enter your email address:


Citation

Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"microphone." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 2 Dec. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/microphone>.

Discuss these microphone definitions with the community:

0 Comments

    Are we missing a good definition for microphone? Don't keep it to yourself...

    Image or illustration of

    microphone

    Credit »

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Quiz

    Are you a words master?

    »
    wear away
    A abrade
    B monish
    C lucubrate
    D huff

    Nearby & related entries:

    Alternative searches for microphone: