Mouse vs. Rat — What's the Difference?

A mouse, plural mice, is a small rodent. Characteristically, mice are known to have a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate.

Rats are generally more intelligent than mice.

A small rodent that typically has a pointed snout, relatively large ears and eyes, and a long tail.

Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents. Species of rats are found throughout the order Rodentia, but stereotypical rats are found in the genus Rattus.

A small handheld device which is moved across a mat or flat surface to move the cursor on a computer screen

A rodent that resembles a large mouse, typically having a pointed snout and a long tail. Some kinds have become cosmopolitan and are sometimes responsible for transmitting diseases.

A lump or bruise on or near the eye

A despicable person, especially a man who has been deceitful or disloyal

(of a cat or owl) hunt for or catch mice

A person who is associated with or frequents a specified place

Use a mouse to move or position a cursor on a computer screen

A pad used to give shape and fullness to a woman's hair.

Any of numerous small rodents of the families Muridae and Cricetidae, such as the house mouse, characteristically having a pointed snout, small rounded ears, and a long naked or almost hairless tail.

Used to express mild annoyance or irritation.

Any of various similar or related animals, such as the jumping mouse, the vole, or the jerboa.

Hunt or kill rats

A cowardly or timid person.

Desert one's party, side, or cause

(Informal) A discolored swelling under the eye caused by a blow; a black eye.

Shape (hair) with a rat.

Pl. mice or mous·es (mousĭz) Computers A handheld, 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.

Any of various long-tailed rodents resembling mice but larger, especially one of the genus Rattus.

To hunt mice.

Any of various animals similar to one of these long-tailed rodents.

To search furtively for something; prowl.

A despicable person, especially one who betrays or informs upon associates.

Any small rodent of the genus Mus.

A scab laborer.

(informal) A member of the many small rodent and marsupial species resembling such a rodent.

A pad of material, typically hair, worn as part of a woman's coiffure to puff out her own hair.

A quiet or shy person.

(Slang) A person who frequently passes time at a particular place. Often used in combination

(computing) (plural mice or, rarely, mouses) An input device that is moved over a pad or other flat surface to produce a corresponding movement of a pointer on a graphical display.

To hunt for or catch rats, especially with the aid of dogs.

(computing) The cursor.

(Slang) To reveal incriminating or embarrassing information about someone, especially to a person in authority

(boxing) A facial hematoma or black eye.

(Slang) To work as a scab laborer.

(nautical) A turn or lashing of spun yarn or small stuff, or a metallic clasp or fastening, uniting the point and shank of a hook to prevent its unhooking or straightening out.

To puff out (the hair) with or as if with a pad of material.

(obsolete) A familiar term of endearment.

(zoology) A medium-sized rodent belonging to the genus Rattus.

A match used in firing guns or blasting.

(informal) Any of the numerous members of several rodent families (e.g. voles and mice) that resemble true rats in appearance, usually having a pointy snout, a long, bare tail, and body length greater than about 12 cm, or 5 inches.

(set theory) A small model of (a fragment of) Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory with desirable properties (depending on the context).

(informal) A person who is known for betrayal; a scoundrel; a quisling.

(historical) A small cushion for a woman's hair.

(informal) An informant or snitch.

Part of a hind leg of beef, next to the round.

(informal) A scab: a worker who acts against trade union policies.

(intransitive) To move cautiously or furtively, in the manner of a mouse (the rodent) (frequently used in the phrasal verb to mouse around).

(slang) A person who routinely spends time at a particular location.

(intransitive) To hunt or catch mice (the rodents), usually of cats. 12

A wad of shed hair used as part of a hairstyle.

To close the mouth of a hook by a careful binding of marline or wire.

A roll of material used to puff out the hair, which is turned over it.

To navigate by means of a computer mouse.

Vagina.

To tear, as a cat devours a mouse.

(regional) A scratch or a score.

Any one of numerous species of small rodents belonging to the genus Mus and various related genera of the family Muridæ. The common house mouse (Mus musculus) is found in nearly all countries. The American white-footed mouse, or deer mouse (Peromyscus leucopus, formerly Hesperomys leucopus) sometimes lives in houses. See Dormouse, Meadow mouse, under Meadow, and Harvest mouse, under Harvest.

A place in the sea with rapid currents and crags where a ship is likely to be torn apart in stormy weather.

A knob made on a rope with spun yarn or parceling to prevent a running eye from slipping.

(usually with “on” or “out”) To betray a person or party, especially by telling their secret to an authority or an enemy; to turn someone in.

A familiar term of endearment.

To work as a scab, going against trade union policies.

A dark-colored swelling caused by a blow.

(of a dog, etc.) To kill rats.

A match used in firing guns or blasting.

(regional) To scratch or score.

To watch for and catch mice.

To tear, rip, rend.

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

Damn, drat, blast; used in oaths.

To tear, as a cat devours a mouse.

One of several species of small rodents of the genus Rattus (formerly included in Mus) and allied genera, of the family Muridae, distinguished from mice primarily by being larger. They infest houses, stores, and ships, especially the Norway rat, also called brown rat, (Rattus norvegicus formerly Mus decumanus), the black rat (Rattus rattus formerly Mus rattus), and the roof rat (formerly Mus Alexandrinus, now included in Rattus rattus). These were introduced into America from the Old World. The white rat used most commonly in laboratories is primarily a strain derived from Rattus rattus.

Any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails

A round and tapering mass of hair, or similar material, used by women to support the puffs and rolls of their natural hair.

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;

One who deserts his party or associates; hence, in the trades, one who works for lower wages than those prescribed by a trades union.

To go stealthily or furtively;

In English politics, to desert one's party from interested motives; to forsake one's associates for one's own advantage; in the trades, to work for less wages, or on other conditions, than those established by a trades union.

Manipulate the mouse of a computer

To catch or kill rats.

Mouse is a small rodent with a pointy nose.

To be an informer (against an associate); to inform (on an associate); to squeal; - used commonly in the phrase to rat on.

Mice have long, thin tails.

Any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse

Mice are generally more curious than rats.

Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike

Mice can reproduce rapidly.

A person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible;

Mice are commonly found in various environments.

One who reveals confidential information in return for money

A pad (usually made of hair) worn as part of a woman's coiffure

Desert one's party or group of friends, for example, for one's personal advantage

Employ scabs or strike breakers in

Take the place of work of someone on strike

Give (hair) the appearance of being fuller by using a rat

Catch rats, especially with dogs

Give away information about somebody;

Rat is a larger rodent with a blunt nose.

Rats have thicker tails.

Rats have a more varied diet.

Rats are more commonly found in urban areas.

Yes, mice have pointier noses, while rats have blunter noses.

Mice are generally smaller than rats.

Rats have a varied diet, including fruits, grains, and small insects.

No, mice are generally less cautious than rats.

Yes, both are rodents but from different genera.

Yes, mice are generally nocturnal creatures.

A mouse can have up to 10 litters a year.

The average lifespan of a mouse is around 1-3 years.

A rat can have 7-8 offspring per litter.

Rats are generally easier to train due to their higher intelligence.

Rats are more commonly found in urban areas.

The average lifespan of a rat is around 2-3 years.

Both can carry diseases, but rats are more commonly associated with spreading illnesses.

Yes, rats are generally nocturnal as well.