larva

noun

lar·​va ˈlär-və How to pronounce larva (audio)
plural larvae ˈlär-(ˌ)vē How to pronounce larva (audio)
-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 characters
larval adjective

Example Sentences

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 This larva belongs to tornaria, a kind of acorn worm that likes to live in plankton. Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 20 Apr. 2010 Named for its host plant, this native striped beetle can chew leaf holes as both an adult and a larva. Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 16 Feb. 2023 The edible worm is the larva of the red palm weevil and it’s usually eaten with ekpukpu (kpokpo garri). Uwagbale Edward-ekpu, Quartz, 2 Sep. 2022 The salamander starts as an egg, hatching into aquatic larva. Guest, Discover Magazine, 19 Apr. 2019 By the time the larva emerges from its host, the viruses are common in the brain and other neurological structures. Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 11 Feb. 2015 Viewers who could tolerate a photograph of a praying mantis shredding a larva drew the line at seeing a snake swallow a mouse whole. Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2023 Invertebrates undergo several kinds of larva-to-adult transformations. Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 17 Jan. 2023 One toad even managed to swallow a larva, which moved inside its stomach for two hours. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 21 Sep. 2011 See More

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

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, specter, mask; akin to Latin lar Lar

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of larva was in 1768

Dictionary Entries Near larva

Cite this Entry

“Larva.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/larva. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

larva

noun
lar·​va ˈlär-və How to pronounce larva (audio)
plural larvae -(ˌ)vē How to pronounce larva (audio)
-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 adjective

Medical Definition

larva

noun
lar·​va ˈlär-və How to pronounce larva (audio)
plural larvae -(ˌ)vē How to pronounce larva (audio) -ˌvī How to pronounce larva (audio) 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 adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on larva

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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