Lyme disease

noun

ˈlīm- 

: 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

Recent Examples on the Web

This Sini Anderson documentary contextualizes Hanna within the progressive alternative rock scene that emerged in the 1980s and gained true steam in the '90s, before highlighting her struggle with Lyme disease and the way the messages in Hanna's music translate her personal battles. —Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026

Greg Yang, who has been battling Lyme disease, has also decided to step back from his role to focus on his health. —Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 12 Feb. 2026

And as temperatures warm and precipitation patterns change, insects that spread diseases—such as mosquitoes that spread malaria and West Nile virus and ticks that spread Lyme disease—are expanding their ranges. —Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 12 Feb. 2026

Still, Lang says joint pain is often attributed to developing arthritis or Lyme disease, which can delay getting the necessart treatment for perimenopause symptoms. —Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Flow Space, 11 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Lyme, Connecticut, where it was first reported

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Lyme disease

• actuaries
• analyses
• anopheles
• antitheses
• apostrophes
• catalyses
• distributees
• examinees
• hypotheses
• interviewees
• isosceles
• paralyses

Kids Definition

Lyme disease

noun

ˈlīm- 

: 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

Medical Definition

Lyme disease

noun

: an acute inflammatory disease that is usually characterized initially by the skin lesion erythema migrans and by fatigue, fever, and chills and if left untreated may later manifest itself in cardiac and neurological disorders, joint pain, and arthritis and that is caused by a spirochete of the genus Borrelia (B. burgdorferi) transmitted by the bite of a tick especially of the genus Ixodes (I. scapularis synonym I. dammini in the eastern and midwestern United States, I. pacificus especially in some parts of the Pacific coastal states of the United States, and I. ricinus in Europe)

called also Lyme, Lyme borreliosis