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Synonyms

mite

1 American  
[mahyt] / maɪt /

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.

mite 2 American  
[mahyt] / maɪt /

noun

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

  2. a very small sum of money.

  3. a coin of very small value.

  4. a very small object.

  5. a very small creature.

adverb

  1. to a small extent; somewhat (often preceded bya ).

    a mite selfish.
mite 1 British  
/ 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

"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
mite 2 British  
/ maɪt /

noun

  1. a very small particle, creature, or object

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

  3. a former Flemish coin of small value

  4. informal somewhat

    he's a mite foolish
"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
mite Scientific  
/ 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.

Etymology

Origin of mite1

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

Origin of mite2

1300–50; Middle English myte < Middle Dutch mīte small copper coin; ultimately identical with mite 1

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.

The way it steers the immune system towards fighting an infection also seemed to reduce the response to house dust mite allergens – which are a trigger of allergic asthma.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

The finding represents the second spider-parasitic mite ever described in Brazil and the first from its family recorded in the country.

From Science Daily • Jan. 28, 2026

The area is located near caves and grottos, an environment similar to where Brazil's first known spider-parasitic mite species, Charletonia rocciai, was discovered.

From Science Daily • Jan. 28, 2026

Thousands of people with a severe dust mite allergy could benefit from a "life changing" new daily treatment.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2025

Or it mite even sucseed tem- perary and leeve you werse off then you are now.

From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes

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.