Word
lyme
Phoneticsly·me
/ˈɫaɪm/
Definition
n. a serious illness you get from the bite of a tiny insect called a tick. It often causes a red rash that looks like a target and makes you feel very tired or sore.
n. an inflammatory disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks. Often presents with a characteristic bullseye rash and systemic symptoms.
Examples
“He spent weeks recovering from Lyme after a hiking trip.”
“Doctors recommend wearing long trousers in tall grass to prevent the tick bites that spread Lyme.”
“Early diagnosis of Lyme is critical, as the infection can progress from localized skin irritation to more severe neurological and cardiac complications if left untreated by antibiotics.”
Examples
simple
“He spent weeks recovering from Lyme after a hiking trip.”
contextual
“Doctors recommend wearing long trousers in tall grass to prevent the tick bites that spread Lyme.”
complex
“Early diagnosis of Lyme is critical, as the infection can progress from localized skin irritation to more severe neurological and cardiac complications if left untreated by antibiotics.”
Usage
Usually refers to the disease itself; often used as a modifier in the phrase 'Lyme disease'.
Pitfall
I have the Lyme
I have Lyme
Names of specific diseases like Lyme do not typically take the definite article.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/lyme