mite

noun (1)

\ ˈmīt

Definition of mite

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

mite

noun (2)

Definition of mite (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a small coin or sum of money

2a : 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

History and Etymology for mite

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

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

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Cite this Entry

“Mite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mite. Accessed 22 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for mite

mite

noun

\ ˈmīt

Kids Definition of mite

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

: somewhat entry 2 … on one occasion he did bend the truth a mite.— Jerry Spinelli, Maniac Magee

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