¹mouse

noun \ˈmau̇s\

: a very small animal that has a pointed nose and a long, thin tail

: a small device that is connected to a computer and that you move with your hand to control the movement of a pointer on the computer screen

plural mice \ˈmīs\

Full Definition of MOUSE

: any of numerous small rodents (as of the genus Mus) with pointed snout, rather small ears, elongated body, and slender tail

: a timid person

: a dark-colored swelling caused by a blow; specifically : black eye

plural also mous·es : a small mobile manual device that controls movement of the cursor and selection of functions on a computer display

See mouse defined for English-language learners

See mouse defined for kids

Origin of MOUSE

Middle English, from Old English mūs; akin to Old High German mūs mouse, Latin mus, Greek mys mouse, muscle

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Mammals Terms

dormouse, dugong, gibbon, grimalkin, sable, stoat, ungulate, vole

Rhymes with MOUSE

blouse, chiaus, chouse, douse, gauss, Gauss, grouse, house, Klaus, Laos, louse, scouse, souse, spouse

²mouse

verb \ˈmau̇z\

mousedmous·ing

Definition of MOUSE

intransitive verb

: to hunt for mice

: to search or move stealthily or slowly

transitive verb

obsolete

a : bite, gnaw

b : to toy with roughly

: to search for carefully —usually used with out

First Known Use of MOUSE

13th century

Related to MOUSE

Synonyms: lurk, mooch, sneak, pussyfoot, shirk, skulk, slide, slink, slip, snake, steal

Rhymes with MOUSE

blouse, bowse, browse, douse, dowse, drowse, house, rouse, spouse, touse

MOUSE[1] Defined for Kids

mouse

noun \ˈmau̇s\

plural mice \ˈmīs\

Definition of MOUSE for Kids

: a very small furry gnawing animal that is a rodent with a pointed snout and long slender tail

: a person without spirit or courage

plural also mous·es : a small movable device that is connected to a computer and used to move the cursor and select functions on the screen

— mouse·like \ˈmau̇s-ˌlīk\ adjective

Medical Dictionary

mouse

noun \ˈmau̇s\

plural mice \ˈmīs\

Medical Definition of MOUSE

: any of numerous small rodents with pointed snout, rather small ears, elongated body, and slender hairless or sparsely haired tail, including all the smaller members of the genus Mus (as the medically significant house mouse, M. musculus) and many members of other rodent genera and families having little more in common than their relatively small size

: a dark-colored swelling caused by a blow; specifically : black eye