what is the term used when you press and hold the left mouse key and move the mouse around

The term you’re looking for is “dragging”.

Quick Scoop: What That Mouse Move Is Called

When you press and hold the left mouse button and move the mouse around, that action is called dragging.

You’ll see it used in lots of everyday situations, for example:

• Moving icons on your desktop.
• Resizing or moving windows.
• Selecting multiple files by drawing a box around them.
• Rearranging shapes or text boxes in PowerPoint slides.

In simple terms:

• Click = press and release quickly (no movement).
• Double-click = press and release twice quickly.
• Drag = hold the button down while moving the mouse, then release when you’re done.

In many computer basics and exam-prep questions, the standard answer to “What is the term used when you press and hold the left mouse key and move the mouse around the slide?” is “Dragging.”

Mini FAQ

Q: Is it ever called “highlighting”?
Not exactly. Highlighting is usually the result of dragging over text or objects to select them, but the physical mouse action itself is still called dragging.

Q: Does this term change across apps (like PowerPoint, Word, etc.)?
No, the basic interaction is consistently called dragging in common computer terminology and training materials.

TL;DR:
The action of pressing and holding the left mouse button while moving the mouse around is called dragging.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.