larva

Meaning

1. 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.
2. An animal in the aforementioned stage.
3. A form of a recently born or hatched animal that is quite different from its adult stage.
4. A preliminary stage of someone or something, before it has fully matured, especially a time of growth rather than one of performance.

Synonyms

grub

maggot

caterpillar

🐛

worm

🪱

larvae

chrysalis

eggs

louse egg

wire worm

bug

🐛

larval fish

earthworm

embryo

insect

nit

sprog

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈlɑː.və/

Etymology

From Latin larva (“ghost-like, masked”).