/ maɪt; NAmE / noun
1.
a very small creature like a spider that lives on plants, animals, carpets, etc. :
house dust mites
—see also dust mite
2.
a small child or animal, especially one that you feel sorry for :
Poor little mite!
3.
( old-fashioned ) a small amount of sth :
The place looked a mite (= a little) expensive.
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WORD ORIGIN
sense 1 Old English mīte , of Germanic origin.
senses 2 to 3 late Middle English (denoting a small Flemish copper coin): from Middle Dutch mīte ; probably from the same Germanic word as mite (sense 1).