nymph

\ ˈnim(p)f

Definition of nymph

1 : any of the minor divinities of nature in classical mythology represented as beautiful maidens dwelling in the mountains, forests, trees, and waters

2 : girl Fair nymphs, and well-dressed youths around her shone …— Alexander Pope

3 : any of various immature insects especially : a larva of an insect (such as a grasshopper, true bug, or mayfly) with incomplete (see incomplete sense 3) metamorphosis (see metamorphosis sense 2) that differs from the imago (see imago sense 1) especially in size and in its incompletely developed wings and genitalia

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Examples of nymph in a Sentence

she bought the book of fairy tales for the beautiful engravings of nymphs and fairies featured between the stories the neighborhood nymphs were gathered at the local pizza parlor, checking out the hot guys

Recent Examples on the Web This created a perfect storm of conditions ripe for an exploding deer population, which adult deer ticks like to feed on, and the rodents carrying disease organisms, which nymph and larval deer ticks feed on. — BostonGlobe.com, "Letters to the editor of the Boston Globe Magazine - The Boston Globe," 21 Sep. 2019 Telltale signs of a bed bugs could include small black spots indicating bed bug feces or nymph bed bugs in places such as mattress seams, bed frames and furniture, Orkin says. — Elizabeth Depompei, Indianapolis Star, "Indianapolis jumped 5 spots on list of worst cities for bed bugs. Here's how to prevent them.," 15 Jan. 2020 Tell-tale signs of a bed bug introduction could include small black spots indicating bed bug feces or nymph bed bugs in places such as mattress seams, bed frames and furniture. — Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati ranked as one of the top 10 cities for bed bugs," 13 Jan. 2020 What’s more, water bug nymphs—whose life stage lasts up to 60 days—must be as tough as adults. — National Geographic, "Giant water bugs eat turtles, ducklings, and even snakes," 3 Apr. 2019 This Thermopolium is adorned with paintings of a nymph seated on a sea horse. — Chiara Goia, Smithsonian, "The New Treasures of Pompeii," 21 Aug. 2019 Sticky traps on tree trunks are smothered in dozens, hundreds of hapless lanternfly nymphs. — Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, "‘This is going to be a bad one’: A new pest is causing quarantines in Va. and Pa.," 26 June 2019 Fishermen are relying on spawn bags and jigs tipped with maggots and waxworms, while fly fishermen are working egg patterns and bead-head nymphs. — D'arcy Egan, cleveland, "Baby, it’s warm outside, so go hook a trout! — Fishing Report for Dec. 27," 27 Dec. 2019 Take a look at this OSU publication, which shows what the BMSB looks like from eggs, through juvenile (nymph) stages, to adult. — oregonlive, "Ask an expert: Oh no! Stink bugs - how do we get rid of them?," 21 Dec. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nymph.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

21 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Nymph.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nymph. Accessed 28 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for nymph

nymph

noun

English Language Learners Definition of nymph

in stories : a spirit in the shape of a young woman who lives in mountains, forests, meadows, and water

technical : a young insect that has almost the same form as the adult

See the full definition for nymph in the English Language Learners Dictionary

nymph

noun

\ ˈnimf

Kids Definition of nymph

1 : one of many goddesses in old legends represented as beautiful young women living in the mountains, forests, and waters

2 : an immature insect that differs from the adult chiefly in being of smaller size and having undeveloped wings

nymph

noun

\ ˈnim(p)f

Medical Definition of nymph

1 : any of various hemimetabolous insects in an immature stage and especially a late larva (as of a true bug) in which rudiments of the wings and genitalia are present broadly : any insect larva that differs chiefly in size and degree of differentiation from the imago

2 : a mite or tick in the first eight-legged form that immediately follows the last larval molt

3 : a nymphal stage in the life cycle of an insect or acarid

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