nymph

• nymphe (rare, archaic)

From Middle English nimphe, from Old English nymphē and Old French nimphe, both from Latin nympha (“nymph, bride”), from Ancient Greek νύμφη (númphē, “bride”). Doublet of nympha.

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈnɪmf/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪmf

nymph (plural nymphs or nymphae)

1. (Greek mythology, Roman mythology) Any female nature spirit associated with water, forests, grotto, wind, etc.

   Hyponyms: dryad, naiad, Oceanid, oread

2. A young girl, especially one who is attractive, beautiful or graceful.

   Synonyms: lolita, nymphet, nymphette

3. (entomology) The larva of certain insects.

   Synonyms: instar, naiad

4. (entomology) Any of various butterflies of the family Nymphalidae.

nymph (third-person singular simple present nymphs, present participle nymphing, simple past and past participle nymphed)

1. (fishing) To fish using a nymph larva as bait.
   • 2019, James W. White, Fly-fishing the Arctic Circle to Tasmania, page 253:

     Kuster meanwhile nymphed the middle of the Snag. When I joined him, I threw my streamer between the main channel's flow and the skinnier side-channel flow, […]

• alseid, auloniad, crinaeae, limnade, meliae, napaeae, oceanids, oreads, pegaeae
• dryads, hamadryads, naiads, nereids
• Hesperides