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
Yet, at least in the lab, that does not seem to enhance the nymphs’ chances of survival.
—Tim Vernimmen, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Nov. 2024
Due to nymph feeding patterns, honeydew may be found on nearby plants and other surfaces through the spring, which could attract other insects, such as wasps and butterflies.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 4 Oct. 2024
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, 25 July 2024
As the nymphs feed on leaf undersides, their excretions or droppings (technically named lerps) look like salt or sugar crystals.
—Betty Cahill, The Denver Post, 13 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for nymph 
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Tim Vernimmen, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Nov. 2024
Due to nymph feeding patterns, honeydew may be found on nearby plants and other surfaces through the spring, which could attract other insects, such as wasps and butterflies.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 4 Oct. 2024
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, 25 July 2024
As the nymphs feed on leaf undersides, their excretions or droppings (technically named lerps) look like salt or sugar crystals.
—Betty Cahill, The Denver Post, 13 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for nymph
Dictionary Entries Near nymph
Cite this Entry
“Nymph.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nymph. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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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