black-legged tick

noun

ˈblak-ˈlegd- How to pronounce black-legged tick (audio)
-ˈlāgd-;
-ˈle-gəd-,
-ˈlā-
: either of two ixodid ticks:
a
b
: a tick (Ixodes pacificus) of the western U.S. and British Columbia that is the vector of several diseases (such as Lyme disease)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The western black-legged tick, the most common species in California, often carries diseases that can be transmitted to humans through a bite — especially Lyme disease. Grace Tooheystaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2023 One creature known to produce an antifreeze protein is the black-legged tick. Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2015 Innovative and successful, Nexgard is an oral flea and tick prevention that works against fleas and three tick species (the American dog tick, the black-legged tick, and the Lone Star tick). Laxmi Corp, The Salt Lake Tribune, 12 July 2022 The bacterium that most commonly causes Lyme, Borrelia burgdorferi, is transmitted to humans via the bite of an infected black-legged tick, also known as a deer tick. Maggie O'neill, SELF, 23 June 2022 The lone star tick, the black-legged tick, the American dog tick and the Gulf Coast tick can attach to humans and pets. al, 13 June 2022 While most insect bites are harmless, a prolonged encounter with a black-legged tick (deer tick) or an American dog tick could result in Rocky Mountain spotted fever or Lyme disease. Rachel Ng, Outside Online, 14 Aug. 2021 Ideally, the tick should be positively identified as Ixodes scapularis (or I. pacificus on the western coast of North America), the black-legged tick that transmits Lyme disease. Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 15 July 2021 The Western black-legged tick, California’s equivalent of the Eastern deer tick that also spreads Lyme disease, is not new to the brush and scrub habitat that hugs the water. Kurtis Alexander, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 June 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'black-legged tick.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of black-legged tick was in 1944

Dictionary Entries Near black-legged tick

Cite this Entry

“Black-legged tick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black-legged%20tick. Accessed 31 Mar. 2023.

Medical Definition

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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