microphone

/ˌmaɪkrəˈfoʊn/

/ˈmaɪkrəfəʊn/

Other forms: microphones; microphoning

A microphone is an electric device that amplifies the sound of a voice or instrument. If you're going to stand up in front of a large crowd and want to be heard, you better use a microphone.

Microphones require electricity and amplifiers to work — what they do is take a sound and convert it into an electrical signal. That signal can then be amplified and sent to a speaker or recorded. Performers can sing softly into a microphone and still be heard clearly by an audience member at the very back of a huge concert hall. The popularity of radio and film inspired this meaning of microphone — originally, the word meant "ear trumpet for the hard-of-hearing."

Definitions of microphone

1. noun

   a device used in recording or amplifying sound by changing the sound waves into an electrical signal
   synonyms: mike

   types:

   bug

   a small hidden microphone; for listening secretly

   capacitor microphone, condenser microphone

   microphone consisting of a capacitor with one plate fixed and the other forming the diaphragm moved by sound waves

   crystal microphone

   a microphone in which sound waves vibrate a piezoelectric crystal that generates a varying voltage

   directional microphone

   a microphone that is designed to receive sound from a particular direction

   spike mike

   a contact microphone for listening through walls

   cardioid microphone

   a directional microphone with a cardioid pattern of sensitivity

   type of:

   electro-acoustic transducer

   a transducer that converts electrical to acoustic energy or vice versa