Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A ball mounted in a stationary housing and rotated to control a pointer on a computer screen.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun computing A pointing device consisting of a ball housed in a socket

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an electronic device consisting of a rotatable ball in a housing; used to position the cursor and move images on a computer screen

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

track +‎ ball

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Examples

  • It feels faster and navigating with the trackball is actually easier than using your fingers.

    Cupcake Adds Touchscreen Keyboard And More To Android | Lifehacker Australia 2009

  • For that alone I am glad the trackball is there .... akbar56

    Boing Boing 2008

  • For that alone I am glad the trackball is there .... akbar56

    Boing Boing 2008

  • For that alone I am glad the trackball is there .... akbar56

    Boing Boing 2008

  • Surprise, the left-click on my trackball was all worn out!

    Back again. Saner, but not by much. p_n_elrod 2009

  • You use the whole palm to move the trackball, which is the size of an orange.

    Firefox extensions I'm trying out; and a new trackball Jonathan Aquino 2007

  • The trackball is a little oversensitive, but adjustable.

    Sony VAIO P 2009

  • At the first sign of mouse-induced discomfort, try an alternative device like a trackball, which is a stationary device that you manipulate by rotating a ball instead of moving a mouse across the desk.

    HOME COMFORTS CHERYL MENDELSON 2005

  • Atop the aluminum structure sits a modified computer trackball pointer, with a Ping-Pong ball in place of the usual trackball, which is heavier.

    Cockroach Powered Robot 2005

  • At the first sign of mouse-induced discomfort, try an alternative device like a trackball, which is a stationary device that you manipulate by rotating a ball instead of moving a mouse across the desk.

    HOME COMFORTS CHERYL MENDELSON 2005

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