Definitions for microphone
ˈmaɪ krəˌfoʊnmi·cro·phone

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. microphone, mikenoun

   device for converting sound waves into electrical energy

GCIDE(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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

1. • Electro-acoustic Transducer

British National Corpus

1. Written Corpus Frequency

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

Anagrams for microphone »

1. neomorphic

How to pronounce microphone?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

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. Alphabet Inc Google:

   The on-device microphone was never intended to be a secret and should have been listed in the tech specs. That was an error on our part. The microphone has never been on and is only activated when users specifically enable the option.

2. Principal Jeremy Roche:

   When Verda Tetteh started speaking on the microphone, I was overwhelmed. I think a lot of people in the stadium were, honestly, i was so moved by her generosity.

3. Sam Rega:

   It's just you on a stage, with a microphone and your knowledge base.

4. Hillary Clinton:

   Anybody who complains about the microphone is not having a good night.

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