mite

1
[ mahyt ]
See synonyms for mite on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. any of numerous small to microscopic arachnids of the subclass Acari, including species that are parasitic on animals and plants or that feed on decaying matter and stored foods.

Origin of mite

1
before 1000; Middle English myte,Old English mīte; cognate with Middle Dutch mīte,Old High German miza midge

Words Nearby mite

Other definitions for mite (2 of 2)

mite2
[ mahyt ]

noun
  1. a contribution that is small but is all that a person can afford.

  2. a very small sum of money.

  1. a coin of very small value.

  2. a very small object.

  3. a very small creature.

adverb
  1. to a small extent; somewhat (often preceded by a): a mite selfish.

Origin of mite

2
1300–50; Middle English myte<Middle Dutch mīte small copper coin; ultimately identical with mite1

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use mite in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for mite (1 of 2)

mite1

/ (maɪt) /


noun
  1. any of numerous small free-living or parasitic arachnids of the order Acarina (or Acari) that can occur in terrestrial or aquatic habitats: See also gall mite, harvest mite, itch mite, spider mite Compare tick 2 Related adjective: acaroid

Origin of mite

1
Old English mīte; compare Old High German mīza gnat, Dutch mijt

British Dictionary definitions for mite (2 of 2)

mite2

/ (maɪt) /


noun
  1. a very small particle, creature, or object

  2. a very small contribution or sum of money: See also widow's mite

  1. a former Flemish coin of small value

  2. a mite informal somewhat: he's a mite foolish

Origin of mite

2
C14: from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch mīte; compare mite 1

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

Scientific definitions for mite

mite

[ mīt ]


  1. Any of various very small arachnids of the subclass Acari that often live as parasites on other animals or plants. Like ticks and unlike spiders, mites have no division between the cephalothorax and abdomen.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.