larva

[ lahr-vuh ]

noun

, plural lar·vae [lahr, -vee].

1. Entomology. the immature, wingless, feeding stage of an insect that undergoes complete metamorphosis.
2. any animal in an analogous immature form.
3. the young of any invertebrate animal.
4. larvae, Roman Antiquity. malignant ghosts, as lemures.

larva

/ ˈlɑːvə /

noun

1. an immature free-living form of many animals that develops into a different adult form by metamorphosis

larva

/ lär′və /

, Plural larvae lär′vē

1. An animal in an early stage of development that differs greatly in appearance from its adult stage. Larvae are adapted to a different environment and way of life from those of adults and go through a process of metamorphosis in changing to adults. Tadpoles are the larvae of frogs and toads.
2. The immature, wingless, and usually wormlike feeding form of those insects that undergo three stages of metamorphosis, such as butterflies, moths, and beetles. Insect larvae hatch from eggs, later turn into pupae, and finally turn into adults.
3. Compare imago

Derived Forms

• ˈlarval, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of larva¹

First recorded in 1645–55; from New Latin; special use of Latin larva “a ghost, specter, mask, skeleton”; akin to Lares

Word History and Origins

Origin of larva¹

C18: (C17 in the original Latin sense: ghost): New Latin

Example Sentences

"Witnessing how they slowly transition to a typical cydippid larva as if they were going back in time, was simply fascinating," Soto-Angel said in a statement.

From Salon

Their larvae swim and spread out in the water, colonizing solid surfaces and attaching themselves with fibers.

From Los Angeles Times

Shortly after fertilization, the larvae become mobile and are capable of coordinated swimming as they disperse in the water column.

From Los Angeles Times

Two clearwing moths appear to have hitched a ride when they were larvae, travelling 4,500 miles from a tropical jungle in Guyana, South America, before ending up in Port Talbot.

From BBC

The core problem is that the blackchin tilapia prey on small fish, shrimp, and snail larvae, which are among Thailand's important aquaculture products.

From BBC

Related Words

• grub
• worm