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

By staying in a tight group, the nymphs increase the effectiveness of their striking defensive aposematic coloration to ward off would-be predators. Plants, Fungi And Landscapes During a visit to the Lossiny Ostrov National Park (Russia), Svetlana Ivanenko found several parasol mushrooms. —Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

Before that, crickets hatch from eggs and go through several nymph stages, usually lasting six to 10 weeks. —Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 23 July 2024

After spending 13 or 17 years underground as nymphs, taking tiny amounts of nutrients from the roots of trees, the cicadas live for just four to six weeks above ground. —Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 10 May 2024

Age-old paintings of satyrs bedding nymphs and mythological figures fornicating have been newly unearthed at a small house at Pompeii. —Alex Greenberger For Artnews, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2024

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