mite

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

mite

2 of 2

noun (2)

1
: a small coin or sum of money
2
a
: a very little : bit
b
: a very small object or creature
Phrases
a mite
: somewhat, rather
could be that I am a mite prejudicedJohn Fischer

Examples of mite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In order to keep mites at bay and your lashes intact, just be selective. Ali Finney, SELF, 15 Mar. 2024 This extra layer of protection ensures that the hulls haven't faced any external mite infestation or chemical treatment that could trigger your allergies. Sixteen Ramos, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2024 These sprays are great for controlling mites, aphids, leafhoppers, whiteflies, and hard scale insects. Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 2 Mar. 2024 Spider mites are mites — not insects — and the broad-spectrum pesticide kills all the good insects that would have loved to have eaten the spider mites. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024 Eyelid scrubs like this one help soothe inflamed eyelids and treat some eye conditions like mites and blepharitis. Sherri Gordon, Verywell Health, 16 Feb. 2024 Despite the harsh climates and punishing winters, animals like mites and flies, as well as plants like bluegrass, have made it to the far south in recent decades, probably introduced by humans. Popular Science, 15 Feb. 2024 Enlarge / From a dorsal perspective, this illustration highlights the structural details exhibited by the female mite, Pyemotes ventricosus. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 26 June 2023 Over time, these mites consume both the rye flour and the cheese's surface. Maeghan Dolph, Fox News, 25 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mite was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near mite

Cite this Entry

“Mite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mite. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

mite

noun
ˈmīt
1
: any of various invertebrates that are tiny arachnids closely related to the ticks, that often live on plants, animals, and stored foods, and that include important carriers of disease
2
: a very small coin or sum of money
3
a
: a very little amount : bit
b
: a very small object or creature

Medical Definition

mite

noun
: 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

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