mouse
mows
Mouse (noun) means a small rodent with a long tail, common in houses and fields. Example: “A mouse scurried under the fridge when the light came on.”
noun
1
A small rodent with a long tail, common in houses and fields.
"A mouse scurried under the fridge when the light came on."
"They set a trap to catch the mouse in the pantry."
"We found a tiny mouse nibbling crumbs behind the cooker."
2
A handheld device used to move a pointer and click on a computer screen.
"Her mouse stopped working, so she used the trackpad instead."
"He clicked the mouse to open the file."
"Move the mouse to the corner of the screen and click."
3
A quiet, timid person.
"He was a mouse in meetings, never speaking up."
"Don't be such a mouse; tell them what you really think."
"She seemed a shy little mouse until she got on stage."
verb
1
To search or move around cautiously and quietly.
"She moused around the empty office after everyone had left."
"He moused about the attic, looking for the old letters."
"They moused through the dark house, careful not to wake anyone."
How to use mouse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small rodent, or the desktop pointing device named after it.
Common pairings
computer mouse
mouse trap
quiet as a mouse
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Word forms
- Plural
- mice, mouses
- Third person singular
- mouses
- Past tense
- moused
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ scurried under the fridge when the light came on.
Etymology
From Old English mūs, tracing back to a very old Proto-Indo-European word for the animal. The computer sense was coined by engineer Bill English in 1965, after the device's cord resembled a tail.
Class of 1965
mouse joined the language around 1965.
See the full Class of 1965 →
Related words
Rhymes for mouse
See all rhymes for mouse →Frequently asked questions
What does “mouse” mean?
The word “mouse” means a small rodent with a long tail, common in houses and fields. In plain terms, a small rodent, or the desktop pointing device named after it.
How do you pronounce “mouse”?
“Mouse” is pronounced mows (/maʊs/ in IPA).
How do you use “mouse” in a sentence?
Here is “mouse” used in a sentence: “A mouse scurried under the fridge when the light came on.”
What part of speech is “mouse”?
Depending on how it is used, “mouse” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “mouse” come from?
The word “mouse” dates back to around 1965 and comes from Old English. From Old English mūs, tracing back to a very old Proto-Indo-European word for the animal. The computer sense was coined by engineer Bill English in 1965, after the device's cord resembled a tail.
Is “mouse” a common word?
“Mouse” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “mouse” have?
“Mouse” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small rodent with a long tail, common in houses and fields.
Is the plural of mouse 'mice' or 'mouses'?
For the small rodent, the plural is always 'mice.' For the computer pointing device, both 'mice' and 'mouses' are accepted, though 'mice' remains the more common choice among most writers.
What is the difference between a mouse and a rat?
Both are rodents with long tails, but a mouse is much smaller, with a slender body and a thin, delicate tail. A rat is noticeably larger and heavier, with a thicker tail and blunter snout.
What is the difference between a computer mouse and a trackpad?
A mouse is a separate handheld device you slide across a surface to move the on-screen pointer and click. A trackpad is a flat, touch-sensitive panel, usually built into a laptop, that you control with finger movements instead.
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