mouse

A small animal with fur, a pointed nose, and a long thin tail.

• A mouse ran under the table.
• The cat caught two mice last night.
• Is that a mouse behind the cupboard?

Common phrases: pet mouse, tiny mouse, mouse trap, field mouse

A small device you move with your hand to control the pointer on a computer screen.

• Click the left mouse button.
• My wireless mouse needs a new battery.
• Move the mouse to point at the picture.

Common phrases: computer mouse, wireless mouse, mouse button

An animal belonging to the scientific group Mus, which includes the common house species.

• The house mouse belongs to the genus Mus.
• Researchers compared several mouse species within Mus.
• This laboratory mouse is classified as Mus musculus.

Similar words: murine, murid, vole

Common phrases: house mouse, mouse species, laboratory mouse

To hunt or catch small rodents, especially when a cat does this.

• Our cat likes to mouse in the barn.
• The kitten moused all evening without catching anything.
• Farm cats often mouse around the grain store.

Similar words: hunt mice

Common phrases: mouse in barns, mouse at night

To move quietly and carefully, trying to avoid being noticed.

• He began to mouse around the empty house.
• She moused quietly along the dark corridor.
• Why are you mousing about behind the curtains?

Similar words: creep, sneak

Common phrases: mouse around, mouse about

To tie wire or strong thread across a hook's opening so that attached parts cannot slip out.

• Mouse the hook before lifting the load.
• He moused each hook with wire.
• The crew carefully moused the hooks to keep the ropes secure.

Common phrases: mouse a hook, mouse the hook