: 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
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Bell's palsy, Lyme disease, more Partial face paralysis is usually caused by swelling or damage of the facial nerve, damage to the part of the brain that signals the muscles of the face, or weakness caused by diseases like myasthenia gravis and some muscular dystrophies, according to Penn Medicine.
—
Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2025
Side effects of certain medications, Lyme disease, shingles or stroke can also cause partial face paralysis.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2025
Flea and tick medications prevent infestations that can lead to skin irritations and more serious diseases like Lyme disease.
—Christopher Murray, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2025
More to Explore There’s Something About Lizard Blood Jess Romeo
July 2, 2021
The blood of western fence lizards has the ability to neutralize Lyme disease in ticks—so why aren’t scientists bottling it to sell at the grocery store?
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 11 Apr. 2025
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Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2025
Side effects of certain medications, Lyme disease, shingles or stroke can also cause partial face paralysis.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2025
Flea and tick medications prevent infestations that can lead to skin irritations and more serious diseases like Lyme disease.
—Christopher Murray, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2025
More to Explore There’s Something About Lizard Blood Jess Romeo
July 2, 2021
The blood of western fence lizards has the ability to neutralize Lyme disease in ticks—so why aren’t scientists bottling it to sell at the grocery store?
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Lyme disease
Cite this Entry
“Lyme disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Lyme%20disease. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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Lyme disease
noun
: 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
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