nymphal

nymph   (nĭmf)    n.   Greek & Roman Mythology Any of numerous minor deities represented as beautiful maidens inhabiting and sometimes personifying features of nature such as trees, waters, and mountains. A girl, especially a beautiful one. The larval form of certain insects, such as silverfish and grasshoppers, usually resembling the adult form but smaller and lacking fully developed wings. Also called nympha. [Middle English nimphe, from Old French, from Latin nympha, from Greek numphē.] nymph'al (nĭm'fəl) adj.

Main Entry: nymph
Pronunciation: 'nim(p)f
Function: noun
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 —nymph·al /'nim(p)-f&l/ adjective

nymph   (nĭmf)  Pronunciation Key  The immature form of those insects that do not pass through a pupal stage. Nymphs usually resemble the adults, but are smaller, lack fully developed wings, and are sexually immature. Compare imago, larva, pupa.