mouse
n. · v.-
1 the animal (n.) A1 Beginnera small furry animal with a long tail and a pointed nose.
a small rodent of the genus Mus, characterized by a pointed snout and a long, hairless tail.
ExampleThe cat sat quietly by the hole, waiting for the mouse to come out.
ExampleField mice often seek shelter in barns and outbuildings during the winter months to escape the freezing temperatures and lack of food.
PitfallThere are three mouses in the garden.There are three mice in the garden.The plural of the animal is 'mice', not 'mouses'.
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2 computer tool (n.) A1 Beginner Computinga small device you move with your hand to control a computer.
a handheld pointing device that detects two-dimensional motion relative to a surface.
ExampleClick the left button on your mouse to select the file.
ExampleThe designer preferred a high-precision optical mouse over a trackpad for the detailed work required in the architectural software.
- pointing device
PitfallI need two new mices for the office.I need two new mice (or mouses) for the office.For the computer device, both 'mice' and 'mouses' are acceptable plurals, though 'mice' is more common.
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3 shy person (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate Informala person who is very quiet, shy, or easily frightened.
a person characterized by a timid, quiet, or unobtrusive nature.
ExampleShe used to be a bit of a mouse, but she has become much more confident.
ExampleDespite his imposing physical presence, he was a mouse in social situations, rarely speaking unless directly addressed by a colleague.
- wallflower
- introvert
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4 to move quietly (v.) C1 Advanced Literaryto move around quietly and carefully, as if you are trying not to be seen.
to move in a furtive or cautious manner; frequently used in the phrasal form 'mouse around'.
ExampleI heard him mousing around in the kitchen late last night.
ExampleThe detective spent the afternoon mousing around the archives, hoping to find a document that the previous investigators had overlooked.
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5 to hunt mice (v.) C2 Proficiency Technicalto hunt or catch mice, usually said about a cat.
to hunt for or catch mice; typically used as an intransitive verb describing feline behavior.
ExampleThe farm cat is very good at mousing and keeps the barn clean.
ExampleThe elderly tabby had lost its appetite for mousing, preferring to spend its days dozing in the patches of sunlight on the porch.
UsageThe verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.