miked

Miked is an informal term used in audio, film, and live-performance contexts to indicate that sound is being captured by a microphone. It can refer to a person who is wearing a microphone, a musical instrument or other device that has been fitted with a mic, or a scene where microphones are in use.

Origin and usage: The term comes from microphone, typically shortened to mic. The past tense form miked is used to describe the act of placing or activating a microphone. Variant spellings such as mic’d, miced up, or miced-up are common in casual writing, with the apostrophe signaling elision.

Contexts: In film, television, and stage production, a miked performer is expected to be audible on the sound mix; in concerts, an amplified vocalist or instrument is described as miked. The phrase can indicate wired or wireless microphones, lavalier (lav) mics, or handheld mics.

Notes: While miked is widely understood in industry and among audiences of media production, it is informal. In formal writing, it is preferable to say “equipped with a microphone” or “amplified by a microphone.” Related terms include miking, mic-ing, and on mic versus off mic.