black-legged tick
noun
ˈblak-ˈlegd- 
-ˈlāgd-;
-ˈle-gəd-,
-ˈlā-
: either of two ixodid ticks:
a
: deer tick
b
: a tick (Ixodes pacificus) of the western U.S. and British Columbia that is the vector of several diseases (such as Lyme disease)
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Innovative and successful, Nexgard is an oral flea and tick prevention that works against fleas and three tick species (the American dog tick, the black-legged tick, and the Lone Star tick). 
Laxmi Corp, The Salt Lake Tribune, 12 July 2022 The bacterium that most commonly causes Lyme, Borrelia burgdorferi, is transmitted to humans via the bite of an infected black-legged tick, also known as a deer tick. Maggie O'neill, SELF, 23 June 2022 The lone star tick, the black-legged tick, the American dog tick and the Gulf Coast tick can attach to humans and pets. al, 13 June 2022 While most insect bites are harmless, a prolonged encounter with a black-legged tick (deer tick) or an American dog tick could result in Rocky Mountain spotted fever or Lyme disease. Rachel Ng, Outside Online, 14 Aug. 2021 Ideally, the tick should be positively identified as Ixodes scapularis (or I. pacificus on the western coast of North America), the black-legged tick that transmits Lyme disease. Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 15 July 2021 The Western black-legged tick, California’s equivalent of the Eastern deer tick that also spreads Lyme disease, is not new to the brush and scrub habitat that hugs the water. Kurtis Alexander, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 June 2021 The lone star tick -- identified by a white dot on adult females -- is also known for being more aggressive than the black-legged tick. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 19 June 2021 And in January, a study showed that along the West Coast, the Western black-legged tick is likely to expand its range as the population grows and the climate changes. Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2021 See More
Laxmi Corp, The Salt Lake Tribune, 12 July 2022 The bacterium that most commonly causes Lyme, Borrelia burgdorferi, is transmitted to humans via the bite of an infected black-legged tick, also known as a deer tick. Maggie O'neill, SELF, 23 June 2022 The lone star tick, the black-legged tick, the American dog tick and the Gulf Coast tick can attach to humans and pets. al, 13 June 2022 While most insect bites are harmless, a prolonged encounter with a black-legged tick (deer tick) or an American dog tick could result in Rocky Mountain spotted fever or Lyme disease. Rachel Ng, Outside Online, 14 Aug. 2021 Ideally, the tick should be positively identified as Ixodes scapularis (or I. pacificus on the western coast of North America), the black-legged tick that transmits Lyme disease. Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 15 July 2021 The Western black-legged tick, California’s equivalent of the Eastern deer tick that also spreads Lyme disease, is not new to the brush and scrub habitat that hugs the water. Kurtis Alexander, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 June 2021 The lone star tick -- identified by a white dot on adult females -- is also known for being more aggressive than the black-legged tick. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 19 June 2021 And in January, a study showed that along the West Coast, the Western black-legged tick is likely to expand its range as the population grows and the climate changes. Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
1944, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
black-legged tick
noun
ˈblak-ˈlegd-, -ˈlāgd-; -ˈleg-əd-, -ˈlā-gəd-
: either of two ixodid ticks:
a
: deer tick
b
: western black-legged tick