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.

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

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

   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

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

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. Ry Cooder:

   A microphone has a certain range. It's not as good as your ears, but it will capture an enclosed space, the harmonic content in a room. Nice old tube mikes do that pretty well. And that's a good sound.

2. Chris Christie:

   Anytime you get a podium and a microphone and 15-20 million people watching in an election campaign, you should take it.

3. Roger McGuinn:

   Now, you can just get a laptop, get some software, put a microphone on it and make a record. You have to know how to do it. It does help if you've had 35 or 40 years of experience in the studio. But, it still levels the playing field so artists can record their own stuff.

4. Jake Steinerman:

   Because of its placement on your head, close to your eyes, it can deliver information that traditional smartphones would never be able to produce, the ability to have a microphone close to your mouth, always listening and waiting to deliver information to you, I have found to be extremely valuable.

5. Chris Christie:

   When you get this microphone in your hands, you will feel an indescribable, yet undeniable, gravitational-like pull to give a speech.

Images & Illustrations of microphone

Popularity rank by frequency of use