mouse

IPA/maʊs/
KK[mˈaʊs]IPA/maʊs/

mouse — noun

  • mousesingular
  • miceplural

1. a very small animal with a pointed nose and round ears, whose slender tail may b

1.nounA2
Definition

a very small animal with a pointed nose and round ears, whose slender tail may be as long as its body. It often lives in fields, walls, or storerooms.

Example

A grey mouse ran across the kitchen floor and hid behind the fridge.

countable noun for a small rodent

The farmer found mouse droppings near the bags of grain in the barn.

Common collocations
  • field mouse
  • house mouse
  • white mouse
  • mouse trap
  • mouse hole
  • mouse droppings
Synonyms
  • rodent

    a broader category that includes mice, rats, hamsters, and squirrels — more technical and less common in everyday speech

Common Mistakes

I saw two mouses in the garden.
I saw two mice in the garden.
The plural of 'mouse' is 'mice', not 'mouses'.

2. a small device with buttons that you slide across a flat surface to guide the on

2.nounA2
Definition

a small device with buttons that you slide across a flat surface to guide the on-screen pointer and select items on a computer.

Example

Ryan clicked the mouse button twice to open the email attachment.

countable noun for computer input device

The wireless mouse stopped working after Ingrid dropped it on the floor.

Common collocations
  • computer mouse
  • wireless mouse
  • mouse button
  • right-click the mouse
  • optical mouse
  • mouse pad
Synonyms
  • trackpad

    a touch-sensitive pad built into laptops — you tap or swipe instead of moving a device

Usage Note

The standard plural for this sense is 'mice' (same as the animal), though some speakers use 'mouses'. In formal technical writing, 'mice' is preferred.

3. someone who is very quiet and shy, especially in social situations where they av

3.nounC1
Definition

someone who is very quiet and shy, especially in social situations where they avoid speaking up or drawing attention. Often used to suggest the person should be more confident.

Example

Asher was such a mouse at the party that nobody noticed he was there.

informal: 'be a mouse' for a timid person

Stop being a mouse and tell your teammates what you really think.

Common collocations
  • as quiet as a mouse
  • be a mouse
  • timid as a mouse
Synonyms
  • wallflower

    someone who stays on the edge of social events because they are shy — similar meaning but refers specifically to parties and gatherings

Antonyms
  • show-off

    someone who behaves in a loud, confident way to get attention

Usage Note

Almost always used in the construction 'be a mouse'. Often carries a disapproving tone — the speaker implies the person should act with more confidence.

Common Mistakes

He is a mouse person.
He is a mouse.
Just say 'a mouse' alone to describe a shy person; do not add 'person' after it.
Idioms

when the cat’s away, the mice will play

idiom

People enjoy themselves more and behave more freely when the person in charge is not there.

When the boss left early, the staff started chatting loudly.

The children watched TV all afternoon while their parents were out.

mouse — verb

Word family

  • mice
    noun (plural)A2
  • mousy
    adjectiveC1
  • mousetrap
    nounB1
  • mouselike
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Mouse and rat are both rodents, but a mouse is significantly smaller, with a pointed nose, round ears, and a long thin tail, while a rat is larger, has a thicker tail, and typically lives in sewers or rubbish. Rodent is the broad scientific category that includes mice, rats, squirrels, hamsters, and guinea pigs — it is used in formal or technical contexts rather than daily speech. Hamster is similar in size to a mouse but has a rounder body, a very short tail, and cheek pouches for carrying food; hamsters are almost always kept as pets, whereas mice are usually seen as wild animals or pests. For example: 'The pest control officer identified rodent droppings but could not tell whether they came from mice or rats.'

mouse ↗rat ↗rodenthamster ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

Etymology

Indo-EuropeanGermanicOld EnglishEnglish

The word mouse comes from Old English 'mus', which can be traced back through ancient Germanic languages to a very early Indo-European root. People have used this word for the small grey rodent for thousands of years across many European languages. In the 1960s, computer scientist Douglas Engelbart gave the name 'mouse' to a new input device because its shape and trailing wire reminded him of a real mouse's body and tail.