mike
[mɐɪʔk] noun, verb, proper noun
Forms mikes miking miked mic
- noun (informal) A microphone.
- verb To microphone; to place one or more microphones (mikes) on.
- verb To measure using a micrometer.
- noun (military, slang) A minute. “We'll be there in one zero mikes [i.e. ten minutes].”
- noun (World War II, joint US/RAF) A radiotelephony clear-code word for the letter M.
- noun (slang) An Irishman, especially a labourer.
- proper noun A diminutive of the male given name Michael.
- proper noun A diminutive of the female given name Michaela.
Synonyms
Etymology
Alteration of mic, clipping of microphone. Attested since 1927.
From translingual Mike, representing the letter m, from English Mike.
Shortened from Michael.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “mike”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details