Word
mite
US/ˈmaɪt/
UK/mˈaɪt/
Definitions
01tiny creature
n. a very small creature, similar to a tiny spider, that lives in dust, plants, or animal fur.
n. any of numerous minute arachnids of the subclass Acari, often parasitic or living in organic matter.
“Dust mites are so small that you cannot see them without a microscope.”
“The veterinarian confirmed that the stray cat was suffering from ear mites, requiring a specialized topical treatment to clear the infestation.”
Technical
Synonyms
02a small amount
n. a very small amount of something.
n. a very small object, quantity, or particle; often used to emphasize insignificance.
“She offered what little she had, even though it was just a mite.”
“He contributed his last mite to the charity, proving that even the smallest gesture can carry significant moral weight.”
Literary
03a small child
n. a small child, especially one that you think is cute or feel sorry for.
n. a small or young person, typically used affectionately or to evoke pity.
“The poor little mite was shivering in the cold without a coat.”
“The neighbors looked after the tiny mite while his mother was recovering in the hospital.”
Informal
04slightly
adv. a little bit; slightly.
adv. used as an adverbial qualifier meaning to a small degree.
“The soup is a mite salty, but it still tastes good.”
“The new manager seemed a mite overwhelmed by the volume of paperwork awaiting him on his first day.”
Informal · British English
Usage
Usually appears as 'a mite' before an adjective.
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“The industry is already reeling from the this month’s arrival of the varroa mite parasite.” “Canine sarcoptic mange (scabies) is a skin condition in which microscopic mites (Sarcoptes scabiei) infest dogs' skin.” Etymology
From Middle English mite, from Old English mīte (“mite, tiny insect”), from Proto-West Germanic mītā, from Proto-Germanic mītǭ (“biting insect”, literally “cutter”), from maitaną (“to cut”), from Proto-Indo-European mey- (“small”) or *meh₂y- (“to cut”). Akin to Old High German mīza (“mite”), Middle Dutch mīte (“moth, mite”), Dutch mijt (“moth, mite”), Danish mide (“mite”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
a mite — To a small extent; in a small amount; rather.
widow's mite — A very small gift or donation which, however, represents a great sacrifice on the part of the giver.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/mite