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nymph

Pronunciation: /nɪmf/
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Definition of nymph

noun

  • 1a mythological spirit of nature imagined as a beautiful maiden inhabiting rivers, woods, or other locations: the idyllic world of nymphs and shepherds a wood nymph
  • chiefly literary a beautiful young woman.
  • 2an immature form of an insect that does not change greatly as it grows, e.g. a dragonfly, mayfly, or locust. Compare with larva.
  • an artificial fishing fly made to resemble the aquatic nymph of an insect.
  • 3a mainly brown butterfly that frequents woods and forest glades.
    • Several genera in the subfamily Satyrinae, family Nymphalidae. See also wood nymph

Derivatives

nymphal

adjective

nymphean

Pronunciation: /-ˈfiːən/
adjective

nymph-like

adjective

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French nimphe, from Latin nympha, from Greek numphē 'nymph, bride'; related to Latin nubere 'be the wife of'

nymph in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of nymph in the US English dictionary

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