plural larvae
ˈlär-(ˌ)vē 
-ˌvī
also larvas
-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 characteristics
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
People often submerse themselves in water to ease their suffering, allowing the worm to release larva that then infect others.
—
Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 2 Feb. 2026
The larva of the insect can burrow into the flesh of living mammals like cows and horses, and can be deadly.
—Cbs Texas Staff, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Live birth, or skipping the egg-laying and larva stage, is extremely rare in amphibians.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 13 Nov. 2025
The zooids start as a single larva floating in the water among the plankton.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for larva
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Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 2 Feb. 2026
The larva of the insect can burrow into the flesh of living mammals like cows and horses, and can be deadly.
—Cbs Texas Staff, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Live birth, or skipping the egg-laying and larva stage, is extremely rare in amphibians.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 13 Nov. 2025
The zooids start as a single larva floating in the water among the plankton.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for larva
Cite this Entry
“Larva.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/larva. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
Medical Definition
larva
noun
lar·va
ˈlär-və
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
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