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)

Examples of black-legged tick in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Lyme disease is spread by the bite of a black-legged tick. Linda Carroll, NBC News, 18 Nov. 2023 That means people need to worry all year about Lyme disease, which is spread by the bite of a black-legged tick, experts say. Linda Carroll, NBC News, 18 Nov. 2023 At some point on his ride, at least one black-legged tick burrowed into his skin. Time, 28 July 2023 There are also some pockets of the disease in Northern California, spread there by the western black-legged tick. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 6 Oct. 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 The tick that causes the disease is the black-legged tick, aka the deer tick. Amanda MacMillan, Health, 15 Apr. 2023 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

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 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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