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dust mite

American  
[duhst mahyt] / ˈdʌst ˌmaɪt /

noun

  1. any of various mites, especially Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae, that ingest shed skin cells and may cause allergic reactions.

dust mite British  

noun

  1. either of two mites, Dermatophagoides farinae or D. pteronyssinus , that feed on shed human skill cells. Their excrement is a household allergen associated with respiratory allergies and asthma

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of dust mite

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Dust mite allergy can also cause all-year-round hayfever-type symptoms.

From The Guardian • Oct. 8, 2020

And don’t forget the children: Dust mite allergy is common among children and a risk factor for developing asthma, said Dr. Platts-Mills.

From New York Times • Mar. 4, 2011

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.