Tiny arachnids that often parasitize plants, animals, or stored products, or very small amounts of something.
From Middle English mite, from Middle Dutch mijt or Middle Low German mite, ultimately from a Germanic root meaning 'small thing.' The sense of 'small amount' (as in 'widow's mite') comes from the Biblical story of a poor woman's small offering.
Dust mites are everywhere in our homes - millions of them living in our mattresses, carpets, and furniture, feeding on dead skin cells we constantly shed. Despite being invisible to the naked eye, these microscopic creatures are a major cause of allergies and asthma, showing how the tiniest organisms can have outsized impacts on human health.
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