optical mouse

noun

A mouse (pointing device) that uses a light source and a light detector (for example, an LED and an array of photodiodes) to detect movement, as opposed to the earlier mechanical mouse.

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Meanings

nounoptical mouse (plural optical mice)

plural optical mice

  1. computingA mouse (pointing device) that uses a light source and a light detector (for example, an LED and an array of photodiodes) to detect movement, as opposed to the earlier mechanical mouse.
Cite this entry
APA

optical mouse. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/optical%20mouse

MLA

“optical mouse.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/optical%20mouse. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “optical mouse,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/optical%20mouse.

Source: optical mouse on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.