Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Mouse \Mouse\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Moused}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Mousing}.]
   1. To watch for and catch mice.

   2. To watch for or pursue anything in a sly manner; to pry
      about, on the lookout for something.

Mouse \Mouse\ (mous), n.; pl. {Mice} (m[imac]s). [OE. mous, mus,
   AS. m[=u]s, pl. m[=y]s; akin to D. muis, G. maus, OHG. &
   Icel. m[=u]s, Dan. muus, Sw. mus, Russ. muishe, L. mus, Gr.
   my^s, Skr. m[=u]sh mouse, mush to steal. [root]277. Cf.
   {Muscle}, {Musk}.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of small rodents
      belonging to the genus {Mus} and various related genera of
      the family {Murid[ae]}. The common house mouse ({Mus
      musculus}) is found in nearly all countries. The American
      white-footed, or deer, mouse ({Hesperomys leucopus})
      sometimes lives in houses. See {Dormouse}, {Meadow mouse},
      under {Meadow}, and {Harvest mouse}, under {Harvest}.

Mouse \Mouse\, v. t.
   1. To tear, as a cat devours a mouse. [Obs.] ``[Death]
      mousing the flesh of men.'' --Shak.

   2. (Naut.) To furnish with a mouse; to secure by means of a
      mousing. See {Mouse}, n., 2.

Source : WordNet®

mouse
     v 1: to go stealthily or furtively; "..stead of sneaking around
          spying on the neighbor's house" [syn: {sneak}, {creep},
          {steal}, {pussyfoot}]
     2: manipulate the mouse of a computer
     [also: {mice} (pl)]

mouse
     n 1: any of numerous small rodents typically resembling
          diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on
          elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails
     2: a hand-operated electronic device that controls the
        coordinates of a cursor on your computer screen as you
        move it around on a pad; on the bottom of the mouse is a
        ball that rolls on the surface of the pad; "a mouse takes
        much more room than a trackball" [syn: {computer mouse}]
     [also: {mice} (pl)]

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

mouse
     
         The most commonly used computer {pointing
        device}, first introduced by {Douglas Engelbart} in 1968.
        The mouse is a device used to manipulate an on-screen
        {pointer} that's normally shaped like an arrow.  With the
        mouse in hand, the computer user can select, move, and change
        items on the screen.
     
        A conventional {roller-ball mouse} is slid across the surface
        of the desk, often on a {mouse mat}.  As the mouse moves, a
        ball set in a depression on the underside of the mouse rolls
        accordingly.  The ball is also in contact with two small
        shafts set at right angles to each other inside the mouse.
        The rotating ball turns the shafts, and sensors inside the
        mouse measure the shafts' rotation.  The distance and
        direction information from the sensors is then transmitted to
        the computer, usually through a connecting wire - the mouse's
        "tail".  The computer then moves the mouse pointer on the
        screen to follow the movements of the mouse.  This may be done
        directly by the {graphics adaptor}, but where it involves the
        processor the task should be assigned a high {priority} to
        avoid any perceptible delay.
     
        Some mice are contoured to fit the shape of a person's right
        hand, and some come in left-handed versions.  Other mice are
        symmetrical.
     
        Included on the mouse are usually two or three buttons that
        the user may press, or click, to initiate various actions such
        as running {programs} or opening {files}.  The left-most
        button (the {primary mouse button}) is operated with the index
        finger to select and activate objects represented on the
        screen.  Different {operating systems} and {graphical user
        interfaces} have different conventions for using the other
        button(s).  Typical operations include calling up a
        {context-sensitive menu}, modifying the selection, or pasting
        text.  With fewer mouse buttons these require combinations of
        mouse and keyboard actions.  Between its left and right
        buttons, a mouse may also have a wheel that can be used for
        scrolling or other special operations defined by the software.
        Some systems allow the mouse button assignments to be swapped
        round for left-handed users.
     
        Just moving the pointer across the screen with the mouse
        typically does nothing (though some CAD systems respond to
        patterns of mouse movement with no buttons pressed).
        Normally, the pointer is positioned over something on the
        screen (an {icon} or a {menu} item), and the user then clicks
        a mouse button to actually affect the screen display.
     
        The five most common "gestures" performed with the mouse are:
        {point} (to place the pointer over an on-screen item), {click}
        (to press and release a mouse button), {double-click} {to
        press and release a mouse button twice in rapid succession},
        {right-click} (to press and release the right mouse button},
        and {drag} (to hold down the mouse button while moving the
        mouse).
     
        Most modern computers include a mouse as standard equipment.
        However, some systems, especially portable {laptop} and
        {notebook} models, may have a {trackball}, {touchpad} or
        {Trackpoint} on or next to the {keyboard}.  These input
        devices work like the mouse, but take less space and don't
        need a desk.
     
        Many other alternatives to the conventional roller-ball mouse
        exist.  A {tailless mouse}, or {hamster}, transmits its
        information with {infrared} impulses.  A {foot-controlled
        mouse (http://www.footmouse.com/)} is one used on the floor
        underneath the desk.  An {optical mouse} uses a
        {light-emitting diode} and {photocells} instead of a rolling
        ball to track its position.  Some optical designs may require
        a special mouse mat marked with a grid, others, like the
        Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer, work on nearly any surface.
     
        {Yahoo!
       
     (http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Companies/Computers/Hardware/Peripherals/Input_Devices/Mice/)}.
     
        {(http://peripherals.about.com/library/weekly/aa041498.htm)}.
     
        {PC Guide's "Troubleshooting Mice"
        (http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/comp/mice.htm)}.
     
        (1999-07-21)

Mouse
     
        A mighty small {macro} language developed by Peter Grogono in
        1975.
     
        ["Mouse, A Language for Microcomputers", P. Grogono
         Petrocelli Books, 1983].
     
        (1994-10-31)