microphone

3 definitions found

microphone - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  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]

microphone - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  microphone
      n 1: device for converting sound waves into electrical energy
           [syn: microphone, mike]

microphone - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  microphone
  
     <hardware, audio> Any electromechanical device designed to
     convert sound into an electrical signal.
  
     A microphone converts an acoustic waveform consisting of
     alternating high and low air pressure travelling through the
     air into a voltage.  To do this it uses some kind of pressure
     or movement sensor.  The simplest kind of microphone is
     actually very similar in construction to a loudspeaker.
  
     The analogue electrical signal can be fed into a computer's
     sound card where it is amplified and sampled to convert it
     into a digital waveform for storage or transmission.
  
     (2002-11-04)