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directional microphone

directional microphone

1 4.1
A microphone that picks up sound mainly from one direction to reduce background noise
  • noun
  • /dɪˈrɛkʃənəl ˈmaɪkrəfoʊn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : micrófono direccional
  • The interaction was video-recorded for 15 minutes using a portable video camera with a directional microphone.

Examples

  • Intern Morgan (above) is holding a directional microphone that amplifies the sound of whatever it is pointed towards.

    Blog text (4)
  • Phone 5 introduces new enhanced audio features, including a new beam-forming, directional microphone system for higher quality sound. It also includes support for cellular wideband audio, which should improve clarity and provide more natural-sounding speech.

    Blog text (10)
  • More than 20 years ago, the first hearing aid with a directional microphone appeared on the market, and several have followed.

    Academic text (1998)
  • The directional microphone is probably the most efficient means of improving the signal-to-noise ratio to date.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Snoops with those directional microphones.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • This can be achieved by external microphone placement near the ear canal entrance or by the use of directional microphones.

    Academic text (1990)
  • There's a tape recorder with a directional microphone in a parabolic dish.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • The FBI also had directional microphones on Dr. Will Rudolph, as well as on the blond woman in the trendy shop.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Three-stage directional microphones with MOSFET amplifier of my own design.

  • The actor used a directional microphone to ensure that his voice was clear during the outdoor scene.

Synonyms

directional mike
vsdirectional microphone
  • Informal
5.1

A microphone that mostly picks up sound from one direction to reduce background noise

is the same meaning but uses the full formal spelling instead
shotgun microphone
vsdirectional microphone
  • Specialized
6.7

A long narrow microphone that picks up sound from one direction, often from far away

is more general and not limited to long barrel or distant use
shotgun mike
vsdirectional microphone
  • Specialized
7.7

A long, narrow microphone that records sound clearly from one direction

is broader and not restricted to long barrel or aimed distant recording
gun mike
vsdirectional microphone
  • Informal
8.2

A long, narrow microphone that picks up sound from far away in one direction

is less specialized and does not require being aimed for distant capture
gun microphone
vsdirectional microphone
  • Specialized
7.5

A long, thin microphone that you point at a sound to record it from far away

is less specialized and used beyond long barrel distant recordings

Antonyms

omnidirectional
  • Specialized
1 7.9

Able to send or receive signals equally in every direction

How Directional

shotgun microphone
  • Specialized
6.7
directional microphone
  • Specialized
1 4.1
cardioid microphone
  • Specialized
6.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

directional + microphone

The meaning 'a microphone designed to capture sound mainly from a particular direction' is directly and transparently derivable from combining 'directional' (relating to orientation or a particular direction) with 'microphone' (a device that converts sound into signals). This adjective + noun compositional pattern is common and cross-linguistically regular, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words should understand the MWE.

Etymology

Directional microphone gives a clear picture: the word directional means it points one way and microphone is a device that hears sound, so imagine a mic aimed at a person to catch that voice while blocking other noise. That's why it means 'to capture sound mainly from a particular direction, reducing sound from other directions'.