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

Without treatment, Lyme disease can progress to include neurological, heart and joint problems. —Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026

The tick, while not a carrier of Lyme disease, is known for its unusual ability to make some people develop a red meat allergy. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026

The companies' vaccine targets the outer surface protein A of the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. —Angelica Peebles, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2026

Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. —Reuters, NBC news, 23 Mar. 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