: an acute inflammatory disease that is caused by spirochetes (genus Borrelia, especially B. burgdorferi) transmitted by ticks (genus Ixodes and especially I. scapularis), that is usually characterized initially by a spreading red annular erythematous skin lesion and by fatigue, fever, and chills, and that if left untreated may later manifest itself in joint pain, arthritis, and cardiac and neurological disorders
called also
Lyme\
ˈlīm 
\
Examples of Lyme disease in a Sentence
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Only two life forms — lactobacilli, found in yogurt, and Borrelia burgdorferi, which is responsible for Lyme disease — are currently not dependent on iron.
—
Hannah Peart, NBC News, 22 Oct. 2024
Within that group, 41% also had Lyme disease, almost 4% had ehrlichiosis, and a tiny portion, 0.3%, had anaplasmosis.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 18 Oct. 2024
Of those, 41% also had Lyme disease; 3.7% had ehrlichiosis; and 0.3% had anaplasmosis.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 16 Oct. 2024
And the truth is, wearing repellent can save your life, protecting you against West Nile virus and Lyme disease, just to name a few of the pathogens mosquitos and ticks can pass on.
—Kristin Canning, WIRED, 14 Oct. 2024
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Hannah Peart, NBC News, 22 Oct. 2024
Within that group, 41% also had Lyme disease, almost 4% had ehrlichiosis, and a tiny portion, 0.3%, had anaplasmosis.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 18 Oct. 2024
Of those, 41% also had Lyme disease; 3.7% had ehrlichiosis; and 0.3% had anaplasmosis.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 16 Oct. 2024
And the truth is, wearing repellent can save your life, protecting you against West Nile virus and Lyme disease, just to name a few of the pathogens mosquitos and ticks can pass on.
—Kristin Canning, WIRED, 14 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for Lyme disease
Dictionary Entries Near Lyme disease
Cite this Entry
“Lyme disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Lyme%20disease. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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Lyme disease
noun
: a serious disease that is caused by a bacterium transmitted by some ticks, that is often characterized at first by a spreading red patch on the skin, and that may result in joint pain and disorders of the heart and nervous system if left untreated
Etymology
from Lyme, Connecticut, where the disease was first reported
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