mouse
HighNeutral
Definition
Meaning
A small rodent with a pointed snout, small rounded ears, and a long tail.
A hand-operated pointing device for computers; informally, a shy or timid person.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The plural for the animal is 'mice'; for computer devices, both 'mice' and 'mouses' are used, but 'mice' is more common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both refer to the animal and computer device similarly.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'mouse' can imply smallness or timidity.
Frequency
The computer meaning is equally frequent in both due to global technology.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
mouse over [something]mouse around [for something]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “as quiet as a mouse”
- “play cat and mouse”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In business settings, 'mouse' often refers to computer peripherals for productivity.
Academic
In academic contexts, 'mouse' is studied in biology as a model organism or in computer science as an input device.
Everyday
In everyday language, 'mouse' commonly refers to both the small animal and the computer device.
Technical
In technical fields, 'mouse' specifies a pointing device with buttons and a scroll wheel.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He moused around the attic looking for pests.
American English
- She moused over the link to see the preview.
adjective
British English
- Her mousy brown hair blended with the background.
American English
- He had a mousy appearance that made him seem timid.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I see a mouse in the garden.
- My computer mouse is broken.
- The mouse ran quickly across the floor.
- She used the mouse to navigate the website.
- Despite being as quiet as a mouse, he was heard by the cat.
- Optical mice have replaced ball mice in modern computing.
- The researcher utilized a knockout mouse model to study the gene.
- Hovering the mouse over the hyperlink revealed additional information.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'mouse' as 'mouth' with an 's' – a small creature that might sneak into your house.
Conceptual Metaphor
Smallness and timidity; e.g., 'She was mouse-like in her demeanor.'
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Russian 'мышь' directly translates to 'mouse', but note the plural 'mice' for animals, which is irregular.
- In computing, 'мышь' is also used, so no major trap, but be aware of the plural forms.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'mouses' as the plural for the animal instead of 'mice'.
- Confusing 'mouse' with 'rat' which is larger.
Practice
Quiz
What is the plural of 'mouse' when referring to the animal?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While 'mice' is more common, 'mouses' is sometimes used in technical contexts for clarity.
As a verb, 'mouse' can mean to hunt for mice or to use a computer mouse, such as hovering over something.
In British English, 'mouse' is pronounced /maʊs/, rhyming with 'house'.
Mice are generally smaller with pointed snouts and long tails, while rats are larger with thicker tails.
Collections
Part of a collection
Technology Basics
A2 · 48 words · Everyday technology and digital devices.