larva

noun

lar·​va ˈlär-və 

plural larvae ˈlär-(ˌ)vē  -ˌvī  also larvas

1

: the immature, wingless, and often wormlike feeding form that hatches from the egg of many insects, alters chiefly in size while passing through several molts, and is finally transformed into a pupa or chrysalis (see chrysalis sense 1a) from which the adult emerges

2

: the early form of an animal (such as a frog or sea urchin) that at birth or hatching is fundamentally unlike its parent and must metamorphose before assuming the adult characteristics

larval

ˈlär-vəl 

adjective

Synonyms of larva

• nymph

Examples of larva in a Sentence

The larva of a butterfly is called a caterpillar.

the larva looked ugly, but it was destined to hatch into a beautiful butterfly

Recent Examples on the Web

If cut open, there may be a wasp larva or a mite inside the gall. — Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026

The findings, detailed in a study published today in the journal Science, trace the larva’s daily diving routine with a sonar system, and look at what is going on at the biological level. — Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 23 July 2026

In a paper published this month in PLOS One, Alaei and her colleagues propose an alternative - employing a suite of superworms, a kind of hefty beetle larva that can capably pick a variety of animal skeletons clean. — Ari Daniel, NPR, 17 July 2026

Fireflies go through four life stages – egg, larva, pupa and adult – in a process called complete metamorphosis. — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 5 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, going back to Latin lārva "evil spirit, demon" (applied also to a frightening mask and a puppet in the form of a skeleton), of uncertain origin

Note: Regarding its use in biology, see the note at imago. Regarding the Latin etymology see the note at lar.

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for larva

• parva

Kids Definition

larva

noun

lar·​va ˈlär-və 

plural larvae -(ˌ)vē 

-ˌvī

also larvas

1

: a young wingless often wormlike form (as a grub or caterpillar) that hatches from the egg of many insects

2

: an early form of any animal that at birth or hatching is very different from its parents

the tadpole is the larva of the frog

larval

-vəl 

adjective

Medical Definition

larva

noun

lar·​va ˈlär-və 

plural larvae -(ˌ)vē  -ˌvī  also larvas

1

: the immature, wingless, and often wormlike feeding form that hatches from the egg of many insects, alters chiefly in size while passing through several molts, and is finally transformed into a pupa or chrysalis from which the adult emerges

2

: the early form of an animal (as a frog) that at birth or hatching is fundamentally unlike its parent and must metamorphose before assuming the adult characters

larval

-vəl 

adjective