[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/microphone/)

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# microphone

noun (a microphone, microphones); informal: mic, mike

«microphone» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

A device that picks up sound and turns it into an electrical signal so it can be made louder, recorded or sent. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/microphone/#m1)

### In the lessons

In science lessons a microphone changes sound energy into electrical energy (a speaker does the opposite). In everyday life singers, teachers in big halls and phones use microphones. Phrases: speak into the microphone, the mic is on, open mic.

### Examples

- Please speak into the microphone so everyone can hear. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/microphone/#x1)
- The singer held the microphone close. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/microphone/#x2)
- My laptop has a tiny built-in microphone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/microphone/#x3)
- The microphone squealed when it was too close to the speaker. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/microphone/#x4)
- Is the mic on? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/microphone/#x5)
- The head teacher tested the microphone before assembly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/microphone/#x6)

### Note

Short forms: mic (most common now) or mike. Microphone ≠ speaker/loudspeaker. From micro- (small) + phone (sound).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «microphone» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/microphone/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«microphone» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/microphone.html) on Mova free.