Illustration of deer tick
deer tick
noun
: an ixodid tick (Ixodes scapularis synonym I. dammini) of the eastern U.S. and Canada that transmits the bacterium causing Lyme disease
called also black-legged tick
Examples of deer tick in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The film was a country-house nightmare about contracting disease from deer ticks.
—
Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023
Powassan virus is spread through a bite from an infected blacklegged, or deer tick, according to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, and the virus can be transmitted in as little as 15 minutes after a tick first attaches itself to you.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 23 Aug. 2023
Available in 2-ounce and 4-ounce spray bottles, this repellent advertises up to four hours of protection from deer ticks and up to eight hours for lone star ticks and brown dog ticks.
—Steven Rowe, Health, 28 Aug. 2023
The deer tick that transmits Lyme disease must feed for more than 36 hours before transmission of the infection, Dr. Peterson says.
—Sarah Bradley, Women's Health, 26 May 2023
Of those, the deer tick is the one that often bites and infects humans.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Popular Science, 27 Mar. 2023
The debilitating Lyme disease is caused by the borrelia bacteria, which is usually transmitted to humans through the bite of a black-legged tick, also known as a deer tick.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 8 Aug. 2023
For example, black-legged ticks, also called deer ticks, can carry more than Lyme-causing bacteria.
—Sara Moniuszko, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2023
Lyme disease, which can be transmitted by deer ticks, is the second most common infectious disease reported in Maine.
—Scistarter Team, Discover Magazine, 12 July 2023
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Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023
Powassan virus is spread through a bite from an infected blacklegged, or deer tick, according to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, and the virus can be transmitted in as little as 15 minutes after a tick first attaches itself to you.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 23 Aug. 2023
Available in 2-ounce and 4-ounce spray bottles, this repellent advertises up to four hours of protection from deer ticks and up to eight hours for lone star ticks and brown dog ticks.
—Steven Rowe, Health, 28 Aug. 2023
The deer tick that transmits Lyme disease must feed for more than 36 hours before transmission of the infection, Dr. Peterson says.
—Sarah Bradley, Women's Health, 26 May 2023
Of those, the deer tick is the one that often bites and infects humans.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Popular Science, 27 Mar. 2023
The debilitating Lyme disease is caused by the borrelia bacteria, which is usually transmitted to humans through the bite of a black-legged tick, also known as a deer tick.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 8 Aug. 2023
For example, black-legged ticks, also called deer ticks, can carry more than Lyme-causing bacteria.
—Sara Moniuszko, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2023
Lyme disease, which can be transmitted by deer ticks, is the second most common infectious disease reported in Maine.
—Scistarter Team, Discover Magazine, 12 July 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deer 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
1982, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near deer tick
Cite this Entry
“Deer tick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deer%20tick. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
deer tick
noun
: a tick that transmits the bacterium causing Lyme disease
Medical Definition
deer tick
noun
: a tick of the genus Ixodes (I. scapularis synonym I. dammini) that transmits the bacterium causing Lyme disease
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