nymph

noun

ˈnim(p)f 

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

nymphal

ˈnim(p)-fəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• dryad
• hamadryad
• naiad
• oread
• wood nymph

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Among them is Echo, an unfortunate nymph—who, after pulling a trick on one of the gods, has lost her ability to speak except for words already spoken by another. —Diana Kwon, Scientific American, 15 Aug. 2023

The offstage chorus of nymphs, prepared by chorus master Susanne Sheston, sings beautifully, too. —Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 8 Aug. 2023

In the second, the nymph Paeonia attracts the attention of the god Apollo—and the ire of the goddess Aphrophdite, who promptly turned Paeonia into a flower out of jealousy. —Roxanne Adamiyatt, Town & Country, 18 June 2023

Large Super Slim Fly Box This fly box is perfect for nymphs, midges, and other small flies. —Ryan Chelius, Field & Stream, 1 June 2023

Between the goddess and her nymphs, bathing in the sacred grotto, lives the premise of chastity even as the nymphs flirt in their eloquent poses. —Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Aug. 2022

These bugs and their nymphs are inordinately fond of spider mites and their eggs. —Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 July 2023

Climate change affects ticks at every stage of their life cycle — egg, six-legged larva, eight-legged nymph, and adult — by extending the length of time ticks actively feed on humans and animals. —Time, 28 July 2023

But the bugs are already out there in their nymph stage. —Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English nimphe, borrowed from Middle French nymphe, borrowed from Latin nympha "nymph of mythology, young wife or maiden, pupa of an insect," borrowed from Greek nýmphē "bride, young wife, young unmarried woman, nymph of mythology, pupal stage of a bee or wasp," of uncertain origin

Note: Greek nýmphē is conventionally compared to Latin nūbere "(of a woman) to get married (to)" (see nubile), though there is no compelling explanation for -m-. R. Beekes (Etymological Dictionary of Greek, Brill, 2009) opts for a pre-Greek substratal origin.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing nymph

• water nymph
• wood nymph

• water nymph
• wood nymph

Kids Definition

nymph

noun

ˈnim(p)f 

1

: one of many goddesses in old legends represented as beautiful young girls living in mountains, forests, meadows, and waters

2

: any of various immature insects

especially : an immature insect (as a dragonfly or grasshopper) that differs from the adult chiefly in the size of the body and in its incompletely developed wings

Medical Definition

nymph

noun

ˈnim(p)f 

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

nymphal

ˈnim(p)-fəl 

adjective