microphone

microphone
microphone mi"cro*phone (m[imac]"kr[-o]*f[=o]n), n. [Micro- + Gr. fwnh` sound, voice: cf. F. microphone.] (Physics) 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.

Note: 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. [1913 Webster +PJC]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • microphone — [ mikrɔfɔn ] n. m. • 1721; de micro et phone 1 ♦ Hist. des sc. Instrument augmentant l intensité des sons, de manière à les rendre perceptibles. 2 ♦ (1878; angl. microphone [1877]) Cour. Capteur électroacoustique transformant une vibration sonore …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • microphone — ou microphonium 1. (mi kro fo n ou mi kro fo ni om ) s. m. Instrument qui rend perceptibles les sons les plus faibles, quand il est en contact avec le corps sonnant. ÉTYMOLOGIE    Micro..., et terme grec signifiant voix. microphone 2. (mi kro fo… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • microphone — UK US /ˈmaɪkrəfəʊn/ noun [C] ► a piece of equipment that you use to make your voice louder, or to record something: »Most laptops now come with a built in webcam and microphone for online chatting …   Financial and business terms

  • microphone — (n.) 1680s, ear trumpet for the hard of hearing, coined from Gk. mikros small (see MICA (Cf. mica)) + phone sound (see FAME (Cf. fame) (n.)). Modern meaning dates from 1929, from use in radio broadcasting and movie recording. Earlier, amplifying… …   Etymology dictionary

  • microphone — ► NOUN ▪ an instrument for converting sound waves into electrical energy which may then be amplified, transmitted, or recorded …   English terms dictionary

  • microphone — [mī′krə fōn΄] n. [ MICRO + PHONE] an instrument containing a transducer that converts the mechanical energy of sound waves into an electric signal, used in telephony, radio, sound amplification, etc. microphonic [mī΄krə fän′ik] adj …   English World dictionary

  • Microphone — For the indie film, see Microphone (film). Microphones redirects here. For the indie band, see The Microphones. A …   Wikipedia

  • Microphone — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Micro. Un microphone (ou plus simplement micro par apocope) est un dispositif de conversion des ondes sonores acoustiques d un milieu compressible en impulsions électriques. C est donc un capteur analogique. Le… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • microphone — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ boom, cordless, headset, radio, underwater, wireless ▪ condenser ▪ external …   Collocations dictionary

  • microphone — /muy kreuh fohn /, n. an instrument capable of transforming sound waves into changes in electric currents or voltage, used in recording or transmitting sound. [1875 80; MICRO , in sense enlarging (extracted from MICROSCOPE) + PHONE] * * * Device… …   Universalium

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