Final answer:
A cardioid microphone picks up sound primarily from the front and rejects sound from the back.
Step-by-step explanation:
CARDIOID refers to a type of microphone that picks up sound primarily from the front and rejects sound from the back. This characteristic is achieved through the use of a directional pickup pattern, shaped like a heart or cardioid, which focuses on sound sources in front of the microphone and reduces sound from the sides and rear.