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

Several dead adult German cockroaches and nymphs were found under the prep table, while inspectors found more nymphs behind and under the front display cooler. —Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 9 May 2024

Del Rey, for instance, showed up looking like a glamorous woodland nymph in custom Alexander McQueen, while Tyla dressed as a human hourglass in a Balmain outfit designed to look like it were made out of sand. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 7 May 2024

The young ones, or nymphs, stay buried about 1 foot underground for roughly 2 to 5 years, drinking the sap from tree roots to stay alive. —Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 5 May 2024

The eggs hatch, and tiny nymphs burrow into the soil, beginning the process over again. —Julie Bosman Jamie Kelter Davis, New York Times, 4 May 2024

Turner-Smith may incorporate florals, woodland vibes, nymph, or fairy-like energy to best showcase her in a delicate light. —Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 3 May 2024

According to Hurley, the mature cicada nymphs that people have been finding in the Chicago area are not yet ready. —Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2024

On April 13, an Idaho fly fisherman caught a 25-inch cutthroat trout while drifting a stonefly nymph beneath and indicator on the Idaho side of the Clark Fork River. —Travis Hall, Field & Stream, 1 May 2024

After spending 13 or 17 years underground as small 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, 24 May 2021

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