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

As temperatures rise in late April, pale, red-eyed cicada nymphs begin clawing pinky-sized holes in the ground, preparing for their grand May entrance. —Celia Ford, WIRED, 28 Mar. 2024

When the eggs hatch, the young cicada nymphs drop to the ground and burrow, waiting for years to emerge, depending on their brood. —The Enquirer, 22 Jan. 2024

In these particular broods, young cicadas, called nymphs, feed on sap from tree roots underground for 13 or 17 years, depending on the species’ life cycle. —Keely Brewer, The Daily Memphian, and Brittney J. Miller, Cedar Rapids Gazette, Journal Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2024

Periodical cicada nymphs spend years underground growing and feeding off fluid from the roots of plants. —Bonnie Berkowitz, Washington Post, 26 Jan. 2024

Later, when the cicada eggs hatch, nymphs will emerge and tunnel underground to start the broods’ cycles anew. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Jan. 2024

Inspectors saw three live adult roaches and three live nymph roaches between the door gasket and top cover of a three-door glass refrigerator in the kitchen. —Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 23 Feb. 2024

Coming after decades of graceful nymphs, stately ladies, and shapely Grecian goddesses, Clotho is exhilarating because of its utter indifference to the male gaze. —Farah Peterson, The Atlantic, 14 Dec. 2023

The egg case is called the ootheca, and the number of nymphs (baby cockroaches) per ootheca varies depending on the type of cockroach. —Danielle Tullo, House Beautiful, 15 June 2023

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

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