/ˈlɑː.və/, /ˈlɑɹ.və/
OriginFrom Latin larva (“disembodied spirit, ghost, goblin”).
- An early stage of growth for some insects and amphibians, in which after hatching from their egg, insects are wingless and resemble a caterpillar or grub, and amphibians lack limbs and resemble fish.
“The habits of the second nymphal stage are likewise similar to those of the larva stage.”
“Several possible explanations are advanced for a large decrease in numbers between the egg and larva stage, namely, drift of larvae from the sampling station, escape through the meshes of the net, sin”
- An animal in the aforementioned stage.
“The young larva bores into the tissue of a tobacco leaf, usually near the place where it has emerged from the egg, in cases where the egg was laid on a leaf, and mines into the leaf.”
“What does a mountain newt larva eat?”
- A form of a recently born or hatched animal that is quite different from its adult stage.
“In water of 5-6° C, herring hatch in about 22 days, at 11-12° C in 8–10 days. The newly hatched larva is about 6–8 mm long and at first depends on the food reserves of the yolk-sac.”
“Breeding females of both the Lophogastrida and Mysida carry their embryos and larvae in a marsupium, within which their entire embryonic and larval development takes place.”
- figurativelyA preliminary stage of someone or something, before it has fully matured, especially a time of growth rather than one of performance.
“In the fourteenth we find, but still in Latin, a quasi-historical drama, in the larva stage of monologue recitation, founded on a subject from the national annals—that of Ezzelino, tyrant-duke of Padu”
“Man's larva stage is first announced by strong pathetic squalls; — Conscious knowledge of his helplessness, — dependency, appalls, — Evokes maternal sympathy,— for him she will provide,— Most proud mo”
“The larva stage of the child's mind demands much forage material.”
Formslarvas(plural) · larvae(plural) · larvæ(plural)