lone star tick

noun

: an ixodid tick (Amblyomma americanum) of the southern, central, and eastern U.S. that attacks mammals and birds, is a vector of several diseases (such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis), and in which the adult female has a single white spot on the back

Examples of lone star tick in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adult female lone star ticks have a single white dot on their backs. — Eva Flowe, Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026 Unlike the Bourbon virus, which doesn’t respond to antibiotics, Lyme disease is caused by bacteria spread by lone star ticks. — Meena Thiruvengadam, Travel + Leisure, 11 Aug. 2026 Researchers later demonstrated that many of these patients had previously been bitten by the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum), establishing the first clear link between tick bites and a food allergy. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2026 On Martha’s Vineyard, which has come under recent siege by lone star ticks, hunting is having a resurgence. — Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lone star tick

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lone star tick was in 1896

Rhymes for lone star tick

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Browse Nearby Words

Lone Star
lone star tick
lone troop
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Cite this Entry

“Lone star tick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lone%20star%20tick. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Medical Definition

lone star tick

noun
ˈlōn-ˈstär- How to pronounce lone star tick (audio)
: an ixodid tick of the genus Amblyomma (A. americanum) of the southern, central, and eastern United States that attacks mammals and birds, is a vector of several diseases (as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis), and in which the adult female has a single white spot on the back

More from Merriam-Webster on lone star tick

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lone star tick

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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