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Glite Dictionary
shotgun mike

shotgun mike

7.7
A long, narrow microphone that records sound clearly from one direction
  • noun
  • /ˈʃɑtˌɡʌn maɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : micrófono direccional
  • During the interview, the reporter directed the shotgun mike towards the speaker to ensure the questions were heard well.

Examples

  • The sound engineer used a shotgun mike to capture the musician's vocals clearly from across the studio.

  • However, when we add instruments to the equation, we often find it necessary to use body mikes or shotgun mikes so the voices can be heard above the instruments.

    Academic text (1994)

  • For the outdoor event, we needed a shotgun mike to focus on the band while minimizing background noise.

Synonyms

microphone
vsshotgun mike
238 1.7

A device that changes sound into an electric signal for recording or amplification

is specifically a long narrow directional device for aiming at distant sound
mic
vsshotgun mike
  • Informal
194 3.5

A small object that changes sound into electricity for recording or making sound louder

is a specialized directional tool for remote focused sound capture
directional microphone
vsshotgun mike
  • Specialized
1 4.1

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

is designed with a long narrow barrel for more distant focused capture
shotgun microphone
vsshotgun mike
  • Specialized
6.7

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

is the same meaning but shown in alternate phrasing
gun mike
vsshotgun mike
  • Informal
8.2

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

is focused on capturing a specific area rather than only distant sound
gun microphone
vsshotgun mike
  • Specialized
7.5

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

is more about capturing a specific area rather than just aiming at sources
directional mike
vsshotgun mike
  • Informal
5.1

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

is more about focused distant pickup with a long narrow barrel

How Directional

parabolic reflector
  • Specialized
8.0
shotgun mike
  • Specialized
7.7
directional mike
  • Informal
5.1
cardioid microphone
  • Specialized
6.1

Surface Forms

shotgun mike singular
shotgun mikes plural

Morphology

shotgun + mike

The component 'mike' (microphone) is transparent, while 'shotgun' is a metaphorical modifier that evokes a gun-like long barrel and directional aim. A B1 learner who knows both words could plausibly infer a microphone shaped like a gun and somewhat focused in direction, but they would not reliably predict the technical sense of a highly directional, long-barrel microphone without prior exposure.

Etymology

Shotgun mike is named for its long, thin shape that looks like a shotgun barrel and for mike, which is short for 'microphone'. Because the tube points at sound like a barrel points at a target, a shotgun mike picks up sound from one direction and so is used to record voices from a distance while reducing background noise.