deer tick
noun
any of various ticks of the genus Ixodes that are parasitic on deer and other mammals and are vectors of Lyme disease and other infectious diseases.
deer ticks
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pluralof deer tick.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is spread through the bite of infected black-legged ticks — also known as deer ticks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026
The virus is transmitted to humans primarily by Ixodes scapularis, the same blood-sucking deer ticks that transmit Lyme disease, babesiosis and other tick-borne illnesses.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 26, 2024
Poppy-seed-size blacklegged ticks, which are also known as deer ticks and can transmit Lyme disease, can spread the disease to humans after feeding on infected mice.
From New York Times ● Mar. 16, 2023
However, not all deer ticks carry the bacteria that will cause Lyme disease in humans, and I. scapularis can have other hosts besides deer.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022
Babesiosis is most often caused by the tiny parasites Babesia microti and transmitted to humans in warmer months by deer ticks — the same ones that spread Lyme disease.
From Seattle Times ● May 29, 2021
