‖ Acarus Zool.
(ˈækərəs)
Pl. Acari (-aɪ).
[mod.L. f. Gr. ἄκαρι a mite, f. ἀκαρής minute, too short for cutting, f. ἀ not + καρ- aorist stem of κείρειν to cut.]
A genus of minute Arachnida, or spider-like animals, embracing the cheese-mite and its congeners; a mite.
| 1658 Sir T. Browne Gard. of Cyrus iv. 179 [Boiled water] affording neither uliginous coats, gnatworms, Acari, etc., like crude and common water. 1847 Carpenter Zool. II. §766 Some of the Acari have the power of spinning webs..one of these is well-known as the Red Spider in hothouses. 1862 Mrs. Speid Last Years in India 140 The fowls have been exterminated by small-pox, and by the assaults of a little blue acarus. |