Definition of mouse

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mouse    (mous) KEY 

NOUN:
pl. mice  (ms) KEY 

1. 1. Any of numerous small rodents of the families Muridae and Cricetidae, such as the common house mouse (Mus musculus), characteristically having a pointed snout, small rounded ears, and a long naked or almost hairless tail.
   2. Any of various similar or related animals, such as the jumping mouse, the vole, or the jerboa.
2. A cowardly or timid person.
3. Informal A discolored swelling under the eye caused by a blow; a black eye.
4. pl. mice or mous·es  (mousz) KEY  Computer Science A hand-held, button-activated input device that when rolled along a flat surface directs an indicator to move correspondingly about a computer screen, allowing the operator to move the indicator freely, as to select operations or manipulate text or graphics.

intr.v.
moused, mous·ing, mous·es (mouz)

1. To hunt mice.
2. To search furtively for something; prowl.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English mous, from Old English ms; see ms- in Indo-European roots