mite Definition

mite¹
noun

1. A small, often microscopic, animal with a simple rounded body and eight short legs, some species of which are pests, transmit diseases or cause human allergies.

Thesaurus: vermin, parasite, bug, tick.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon.

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mite²
noun

1. Any small person or animal, especially a child that is pitied.

Example: poor little mite
2. A small amount of anything, especially of money.

Thesaurus: iota, jot, modicum, morsel, scrap, smidgen, trace, whit.

Idiom: a mite ...

colloq
Rather or somewhat ....
Example: I'm a mite worried
Example: You've a right to be a mite jealous

Etymology: 14c: Dutch a small copper coin.