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 characters

larval

ˈlär-vəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• naiad
• 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

The animal is a large male that may have hitched a ride as a larva in the ballast water of a boat. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2025

According to ancient Chinese lore, the wife of the Yellow Emperor was sipping hot tea under a mulberry tree when the cocoon of a silkworm, the larva of a silk moth, fell into her cup. —Amy Paturel, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2025

Bristly rose slug The bristly rose slug is the most common rose slug in California and is the larva of a sawfly. —Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025

Bristly rose slug The bristly rose slug is the most common rose slug in California and is the larva of a sawfly. —Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025

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