mouse
mouse
Pronunciation
mouse: /maʊs/
Syllable 1: /maʊs/
/m/ - voiced bilabial nasal consonant
/aʊ/ - diphthong (as in "now")
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative consonant
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: mouse
Plural Noun: mice
Verb (intransitive): mouse (to hunt or catch mice; to move stealthily)
Verb (transitive): mouse (to hunt or catch mice; to search for information using a computer mouse)
Present Participle: mousing
Past Tense/Past Participle: moused
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A small, typically timid, rodent with a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body length of about 3-4 inches (excluding the tail), and a long, thin tail. Often found inhabiting human dwellings or fields.
Synonyms: rodent, shrew (though shrews are not true mice), fieldmouse
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it's a specific animal. Could consider "large animal" or "predator" in a very broad, contrasting sense)
Definition 2: A small handheld device that is moved across a flat surface to control the movement of a cursor or pointer on a computer screen.
Synonyms: computer mouse, pointing device
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it's a specific technological device. Could consider "keyboard" or "touchpad" as alternative input methods.)
Definition 3 (Slang/Figurative): A timid, quiet, or shy person.
Synonyms: coward, timid person, shrinking violet, milquetoast, pushover
Antonyms: brave person, bold individual, extrovert, lion, assertive person
Verb
Definition 1 (Intransitive): To hunt for or catch mice, typically referring to an animal like a cat.
Example: "The barn cat spent the evening mousing in the hayloft."
Synonyms: hunt, stalk, prey (on mice)
Antonyms: ignore, overlook
Definition 2 (Intransitive): To move or operate a computer mouse, especially to navigate or select items on a screen.
Example: "She spent hours mousing around the website, looking for the information."
Synonyms: navigate, click, scroll, point-and-click
Antonyms: type, keyboard
Definition 3 (Transitive): To search for something carefully or meticulously, often with the implication of moving slowly or quietly, similar to how a mouse might forage. (Less common usage, often used with "around" or "through")
Example: "He moused through the old documents, hoping to find the missing clue."
Synonyms: ferret out, search, rummage, delve, root around
Antonyms: skim, glance over, ignore
Examples of Use
Books:
"Of Mice and Men" (John Steinbeck, 1937) – This classic novella's title directly references the animal, highlighting the struggles of the working class and the fragility of dreams.
"If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" (Laura Numeroff, 1985) – A popular children's picture book that tells a circular tale starting with a mouse's request for a cookie.
Newspapers:
"The tech company unveiled its latest wireless mouse, promising improved ergonomics and precision for gamers." (Gizmodo)
"Conservation efforts are underway to protect the endangered Preble's meadow jumping mouse in Colorado." (The Denver Post)
Online Publications:
"How to Choose the Best Gaming Mouse in 2025" (PC Gamer) – An article guiding readers on selecting computer mice for gaming.
"Researchers discover a new species of spiny mouse in the deserts of Oman." (National Geographic online)
"The shy student, a veritable mouse in the corner, surprised everyone with her insightful presentation." (The Guardian online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "The Green Mile" (1999) – The character "Mr. Jingles" is a mouse that displays remarkable intelligence and is central to several plot points.
Television Series: "Tom and Jerry" (Various series, ongoing) – The beloved animated duo features Jerry, a clever mouse, constantly outsmarting Tom, the cat.
Video Games: "Minecraft" (Mojang Studios, 2011) – Players frequently use a computer mouse to control their character's movements, interact with the environment, and build structures. Many games also feature various animal mouse types within their ecosystems.
Music: "Three Blind Mice" (Traditional Nursery Rhyme/Song) – A well-known children's song featuring the animal.
Podcasts: "A segment on the latest 'Tech Talk' podcast discussed the advancements in haptic feedback for computer mouse devices." (Tech Talk Podcast)
General Public Discourse:
"I need a new mouse for my laptop; this one keeps disconnecting." (Casual conversation among friends)
"My cat spent all afternoon mousing in the garden, trying to catch something." (Spoken remark about a pet's behavior)
"He's such a quiet person, really a bit of a mouse when he's in a large group." (Describing someone's personality)
"Just mouse over the icon to see the description." (Instruction given when using a computer)
10 Quotes Using Mouse
"The best-laid schemes o' Mice an' Men / Gang aft agley." (Robert Burns, "To a Mouse," 1785)
"A mouse who knows the way out of a trap, can get a lot of cheese." (Chinese Proverb)
"I have been a mouse for much of my life, a scared, silent little thing. But no more. I will roar." (from "The Red Queen" by Victoria Aveyard, 2015)
"To a brave mouse, every cat is a lion." (African Proverb)
"A man may as well be a mouse as a man, if he lives under a tyrant." (William Shakespeare, Hamlet)
"Don't make a mountain out of a mouse." (American proverb, a variation of "Don't make a mountain out of a molehill")
"What a funny thing it is to be a mouse! One is either quite safe or quite unsafe." (A.A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner, 1928)
"If you want to catch a mouse, don't make a noise like a cat." (American Proverb)
"The mouse that has but one hole is quickly taken." (George Herbert, Outlandish Proverbs, 1640)
"Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back. And the mouse lived happily ever after." (A modern twist on a classic idiom)
Etymology
The word "mouse" has a long and interesting history, tracing its roots back thousands of years!
In simple terms, "mouse" comes from a very old, reconstructed language called Proto-Indo-European (PIE). This was the language spoken by people who lived even before recorded history, and it's the ancestor of many modern languages, including English, Latin, Greek, Sanskrit, and German.
The PIE root for "mouse" was something like *mus- or múh₂s-. This ancient word directly referred to the small rodent we know today. So, the very first known meaning of "mouse" was exactly what you'd expect: the tiny, scurrying animal.
Over time, as languages evolved, this PIE root branched out. In Old English (the earliest form of English, before 1150 AD), the word was "mūs." This "mūs" still meant "small rodent." Interestingly, it also had another meaning: "muscle of the arm." This is because ancient people (including the Greeks and Romans) thought that certain muscles, like the biceps, looked like little mice scurrying under the skin when they flexed! This connection is still seen in the word "muscle" itself, which comes from the Latin word "musculus," meaning "little mouse."
So, the first known use and meaning of "mouse" was for the small rodent, appearing in Old English as "mūs" and originating from a very ancient word shared across many language families. The connection to "muscle" is a fascinating historical side note that shows how people observed the world around them.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Mouse
Quiet as a mouse: Extremely quiet.
Poor as a church mouse: Extremely poor; having no money.
To play cat and mouse (with someone): To tease or torment someone by alternately pursuing and retreating.
A church mouse: A person who is very quiet or poor.
To mouse around/through: To search or explore carefully and thoroughly, often in a quiet or stealthy way (can also refer to using a computer mouse).
Mouse trap: A device for catching mice; also used metaphorically for a tricky or difficult situation.
To mouse (up) something: To ruin or mess something up (less common, more informal).
To be a shrinking violet: (Using a synonym's effect for "mouse" meaning a timid person) To be very shy or modest, someone who avoids attention.
To be a little squirt/pipsqueak: (Using synonyms' effect for small/insignificant) To be small and often insignificant or annoying.
A fat cat, a lean mouse: (A lesser-known contrastive proverb) Highlighting a disparity between the rich and the poor.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of mouse from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
