noun
larva
LAH-vuh
noun
1
The early, immature form of an insect or amphibian after hatching, before it changes into its adult shape.
"The larva will spend weeks eating leaves before forming a chrysalis."
"Tadpoles are the larvae of frogs."
How to Use Larva
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe wormlike or tadpole-like young stage of an animal before it grows into its adult form.
Common mistake
The plural is "larvae," not "larvas."
Common pairings
insect larva
larval stage
Word Forms
larvae plural, larvas plural, larvæ plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “larva”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ will spend weeks eating leaves before forming a chrysalis.
Etymology
From Latin larva, originally meaning "ghost" or "mask" — the idea being that the larval form disguises the adult creature within.