trackball

noun

track·​ball ˈtrak-ˌbȯl How to pronounce trackball (audio)
: a ball that is mounted usually in a computer console so as to be only partially exposed and that is rotated to control the movement of a cursor on a display

Examples of trackball in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Then this Kensington Orbit trackball mouse was balky and didn’t help with a type of wrist pain that can affect parents who pick up small children. Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023 Several mice also come with trackballs, which reduce movement in your wrist, instead of underbody sensors, but these take some getting used to. Tom Price, Popular Mechanics, 24 Mar. 2023 Up close with the Reform's trackball. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 31 Jan. 2022 Sensor Outside of a trackball, the two major types of sensors are optical and laser. Tom Price, Popular Mechanics, 24 Mar. 2023 Its keyboard also comes with an individually programmable RGB backlight, and its trackball-style pointing device has been downsized to fit into the smaller design. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 15 Mar. 2023 Key Specs Pros Cons A trackball mouse reduces strain on your shoulders and wrists by keeping your arm still and relying on smaller movements from your fingers. Danny Perez, Popular Mechanics, 21 Feb. 2023 Where's our Joy-Con with a thumb-sized trackball for quicker aiming in first-person shooters? Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 10 Jan. 2023 The Pocket Reform borrows many of the big Reform laptop's design impulses, including a low-profile mechanical keyboard and trackball-based pointing device and a chunky, retro-throwback design. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 28 June 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trackball.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trackball was in 1967

Dictionary Entries Near trackball

Cite this Entry

“Trackball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trackball. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

trackball

noun
track·​ball ˈtrak-ˌbȯl How to pronounce trackball (audio)
: a ball that is mounted usually in a computer console so as to be only partially exposed and that is rotated to control the movement of a cursor on a display

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