mouse
mouse (mo̵us; for v., also mo̵uz)
noun pl. mice
- 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
- Rare a girl or young woman: a term of endearment
- a timid or spiritless person
- Slang a dark, swollen bruise under the eye; black eye
- ☆
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
- to hunt for or catch mice
- to seek about or search for something busily and stealthily
transitive verb
- to hunt for
- 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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