mite

noun \ ˈmīt \

Definition of mite

: any of numerous small acarid arachnids that often infest animals, plants, and stored foods and include important disease vectors

Origin and Etymology of mite

Middle English, from Old English mīte; akin to Middle Dutch mite mite, small copper coin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Insect Terms

drone, entomology, gadfly, pismire, proboscis, vespine

mite

noun

Definition of mite

1 : a small coin or sum of money

2 a : a very little : bit

b : a very small object or creature

— a mite

: somewhat, rather

could be that I am a mite prejudiced
—John Fischer

Origin and Etymology of mite

Middle English, from Middle French or Middle Dutch; Middle French, small Flemish copper coin, from Middle Dutch

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

MITE Defined for Kids

mite

noun \ ˈmīt \

Definition of mite for Students

1 : a tiny animal that is related to and resembles the spider and often lives as a parasite on plants and other animals

2 : a very small person, thing, or amount

— a mite

: ²somewhat

… on one occasion he did bend the truth a mite.
—Jerry Spinelli, Maniac Magee

Medical Dictionary

mite

noun \ ˈmīt \

medical Definition of mite

: any of numerous small to very minute arachnids of the order Acari that have a body without a constriction between the cephalothorax and abdomen, mandibles generally chelate or adapted for piercing, usually four pairs of short legs in the adult and but three in the young larvae, and often breathing organs in the form of tracheae and that include parasites of insects and vertebrates some of which are important disease vectors, parasites of plants in which they frequently cause gall formation, pests of various stored products, and completely innocuous free-living aquatic and terrestrial forms — see itch mite