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
Alexander Pope3
: 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
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
In Greek mythology, Daphne was a nymph who turned into a laurel tree.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Jan. 2025
The body louse life cycle starts as an egg (nit), develops to a nymph, and finally becomes an adult louse.
—Josephine Hessert, Verywell Health, 2 Dec. 2024
Just last month, Percy Jackson also had a presence at San Diego Comic-Con, where it was announced that Daniel Diemer has been cast in Season 2 of the Disney+ series as the lovable Cyclops, who is also Percy’s (Walker Scobell) paternal half brother, the son of Poseidon and a nymph.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 9 Aug. 2024
Once hatched, the nymphs suck plant sap for two to three weeks.
—Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nymph
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Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Jan. 2025
The body louse life cycle starts as an egg (nit), develops to a nymph, and finally becomes an adult louse.
—Josephine Hessert, Verywell Health, 2 Dec. 2024
Just last month, Percy Jackson also had a presence at San Diego Comic-Con, where it was announced that Daniel Diemer has been cast in Season 2 of the Disney+ series as the lovable Cyclops, who is also Percy’s (Walker Scobell) paternal half brother, the son of Poseidon and a nymph.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 9 Aug. 2024
Once hatched, the nymphs suck plant sap for two to three weeks.
—Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nymph
Cite this Entry
“Nymph.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nymph. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nymph
noun1
: 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
noun1
: 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
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