an acute infectious disease caused by a rickettsia (Rickettsia rickettsii), transmitted to human beings by certain ticks (esp. genus Dermacentor), and characterized by fever, muscular pains, and skin eruptions
See Rocky Mountain spotted fever in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
An acute infectious disease that is caused by a microorganism (Rickettsia rickettsii) transmitted by ticks, is characterized by muscular pains, high fever, and skin eruptions, and is endemic throughout North America.