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

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

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

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