mouse
mouse — noun
1. a very small animal with a pointed nose and round ears, whose slender tail may b
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.
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.
Ryo's cat brought a dead mouse to the back door this morning.
Mice can squeeze through very tiny holes in walls and floors.
- rodent
a broader category that includes mice, rats, hamsters, and squirrels — more technical and less common in everyday speech
常見錯誤
2. a small device with buttons that you slide across a flat surface to guide the on
a small device with buttons that you slide across a flat surface to guide the on-screen pointer and select items on a computer.
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.
You can use the mouse to drag photos from one folder to another.
Nila moved the mouse slowly across the desk to select the text.
- trackpad
a touch-sensitive pad built into laptops — you tap or swipe instead of moving a device
用法筆記
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
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.
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.
In high school, Christopher was a quiet mouse who never raised his hand.
The new manager used to be a mouse in meetings, but now she speaks up confidently.
- wallflower
someone who stays on the edge of social events because they are shy — similar meaning but refers specifically to parties and gatherings
- show-off
someone who behaves in a loud, confident way to get attention
用法筆記
Almost always used in the construction 'be a mouse'. Often carries a disapproving tone — the speaker implies the person should act with more confidence.
常見錯誤
mouse — verb
1. to chase and catch mice as a natural behaviour, especially of cats.
to chase and catch mice as a natural behaviour, especially of cats.
The stray cat mouses in the warehouse every night to keep the grain safe.
intransitive verb — describes a cat's natural instinct
Our neighbour's tabby mouses so well that we never see any mice around.
Bilal watched the barn cat mouse for hours from the kitchen window.
Even well-fed domestic cats will still mouse if they get the chance.
- hunt
more general; 'mouse' is specific to catching mice and is used mainly for cats
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used to describe cats. Not used for humans who hunt mice.
2. to move in a slow, quiet way, trying not to attract attention or be noticed.
to move in a slow, quiet way, trying not to attract attention or be noticed.
Adisa moused around the corner to see who was talking in the hallway.
intransitive + adverb/preposition of direction
The journalist moused through the crowd, trying to get closer to the speaker.
Ignacio moused along the dark corridor, careful not to make any noise.
A cat moused silently through the tall grass toward the bird feeder.
- sneak
more common in everyday English; 'mouse' is more literary and evokes the image of a tiny, cautious animal
文法句型
mouse + adverb or prepositional phrase of direction
用法筆記
Often used with directional adverbs or prepositional phrases such as 'around', 'along', 'through'. The implied agent moves with the cautious, quiet quality of a mouse.
常見錯誤
3. to look through something slowly and attentively in order to find a particular i
to look through something slowly and attentively in order to find a particular item or piece of information.
Indra moused through the stack of papers until she found the signed contract.
transitive + through + noun phrase
The detective moused through old case files looking for a forgotten clue.
Nicholas moused through the library shelves for a book about ancient Rome.
Hugo moused through the photos on his phone to find the one he took last summer.
- search
more general and neutral; 'mouse through' specifically suggests slow, thorough examination
文法句型
mouse through + noun phrase
用法筆記
Almost always followed by 'through' + a noun phrase describing a collection of items (papers, files, shelves, documents). Implies a slow, methodical search.