mike

Everyday

1. Mike is a boy's or man's first name, short for Michael. tree →
2. (informal) A mike is a microphone, the device that picks up your voice so it can be made louder or recorded. tree →
3. (informal) To mike someone up is to fix a small microphone on them. tree →
4. In the radio alphabet, Mike stands for the letter M. tree →

In the lessons

In school, a mike is used in assemblies, plays and school radio; you speak clearly into the mike. Pilots and police say "Mike" for M when spelling over the radio. Phrases: "speak into the mike", "the mike is on", "open mike night", "mike drop".

Examples

• Mike is my best friend from football. tree →
• Please speak into the mike so the people at the back can hear. tree →
• The mike squeaked loudly when the head teacher tapped it. tree →
• The sound team miked up all the actors before the play. tree →
• My uncle played guitar at an open-mike night. tree →
• "M for Mike," said the pilot over the radio. tree →
• (slang) She finished her speech, dropped the mike and walked off. tree →

Note

As a name it takes a capital letter. "Mike" for microphone is also spelled "mic" (pronounced the same). "Mike drop" is slang for ending something boldly after a great point. "For the love of Mike!" is an old exclamation of annoyance.