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mouse definition

mouse (mo̵us; for v., also mo̵uz)

noun pl. mice

  1. any of a large number of small, widespread rodents belonging to various families and having small ears and a long, thin tail, esp., a species (Mus musculus) that commonly infests buildings
    1. Rare a girl or young woman: a term of endearment
    2. a timid or spiritless person
  2. Slang a dark, swollen bruise under the eye; black eye
  3. Etymology: < the shape, motions required for use, and trailing tail-like cord of the earliest devices

    Comput. a small, hand-held device that is moved about on a flat surface in front of a video screen in such a way as to move or position the cursor or part of the display

Etymology: ME mous < OE mus, akin to Ger maus < IE *mūs, a mouse > Gr mys, L mus, mouse & musculus, muscle

intransitive verb moused, mousing mous′·ing

  1. to hunt for or catch mice
  2. to seek about or search for something busily and stealthily

transitive verb

  1. to hunt for
  2. Obsolete to tear or rend as a cat does a mouse

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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