Acarian

/əˈkɛərɪən/ adjective

Definition

Relating to or characteristic of mites and ticks, or free from mites and ticks.

Etymology

Derived from Latin 'acarus' (mite) plus the suffix '-ian', meaning 'of or relating to'; can also mean the negation (freedom from acari).

Kelly Says

The term 'acarian' can mean two opposite things depending on context—either something is full of mites or free from them—which makes it one of those tricky medical terms that requires careful reading to understand what scientists actually mean.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.