Lyme disease

noun

ˈlīm- 

: an acute inflammatory disease that is caused by a spirochete (Borrelia burgdorferi) transmitted by ticks (genus Ixodes and especially I. dammini), 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

If left untreated, Lyme disease can affect the brain, heart, and nervous system. —Maggie O'Neill, Health, 1 July 2024

Rates of Lyme disease in Wisconsin have more than doubled in the past 15 years. —Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 26 June 2024

She was diagnosed with Lyme disease—a bacterial infection that can cause extreme fatigue and neurological complications. —Sophie Hanson, StyleCaster, 24 June 2024

See if your county had reports of Lyme disease within the past five years: Seven of the 10 counties most affected by Lyme disease were all located in Pennsylvania between 2016 and 2019. —Sara Chernikoff, USA TODAY, 23 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Lyme, Connecticut, where it was first reported

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above

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