larva

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: lar=va

CIDE DICTIONARY

larva, n. [L. larva ghost, specter, mask.].

•  Any young insect from the time that it hatches from the egg until it becomes a pupa, or chrysalis. During this time it usually molts several times, and may change its form or color each time. The larvæ of many insects are much like the adults in form and habits, but have no trace of wings, the rudimentary wings appearing only in the pupa stage. In other groups of insects the larvæ are totally unlike the parents in structure and habits, and are called caterpillars, grubs, maggots, etc.  [1913 Webster]
•  The early, immature form of any animal when more or less of a metamorphosis takes place, before the assumption of the mature shape.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

larva, n. (pl. larvae)
1 the stage of development of an insect between egg and pupa, e.g. a caterpillar.
2 an immature form of other animals that undergo some metamorphosis, e.g. a tadpole.

Derivative

larval adj. larvicide n.

Etymology

L, = ghost, mask

THESAURUS

larva

Anlage, Masan, apparition, appearance, arachnid, arthropod, astral, astral spirit, aurelia, banshee, beetle, blastula, bug, caterpillar, centipede, chilopod, chrysalis, cocoon, control, daddy longlegs, departed spirit, diplopod, disembodied spirit, duppy, dybbuk, eidolon, embryo, fetus, fly, form, germ, germen, ghost, grateful dead, grub, guide, hant, harvestman, haunt, hexapod, idolum, immateriality, incorporeal, incorporeal being, incorporeity, insect, lemures, maggot, manes, materialization, millepede, millipede, mite, nymph, nympha, oni, phantasm, phantasma, phantom, poltergeist, presence, pupa, revenant, rudiment, scorpion, shade, shadow, shape, shrouded spirit, specter, spectral ghost, spider, spirit, spook, sprite, tarantula, theophany, tick, unsubstantiality, vision, walking dead man, wandering soul, wiggler, wraith, wriggler, zombie, zygote

ROGET THESAURUS

larva

Infant

N infant, babe, baby, babe in arms, nurseling, suckling, yearling, weanling, papoose, bambino, kid, vagitus, child, bairn, little one, brat, chit, pickaninny, urchin, bantling, bratling, elf, youth, boy, lad, stripling, youngster, youngun, younker, callant, whipster, whippersnapper, whiffet, schoolboy, hobbledehoy, hopeful, cadet, minor, master, scion, sap, seedling, tendril, olive branch, nestling, chicken, larva, chrysalis, tadpole, whelp, cub, pullet, fry, callow, codlin, codling, foetus, calf, colt, pup, foal, kitten, lamb, lambkin, aurelia, caterpillar, cocoon, nymph, nympha, orphan, pupa, staddle, girl, lass, lassie, wench, miss, damsel, demoiselle, maid, maiden, virgin, hoyden, infantine, infantile, puerile, boyish, girlish, childish, babyish, kittenish, baby, newborn, unfledged, new-fledged, callow, in the cradle, in swaddling clothes, in long clothes, in arms, in leading strings, at the breast, in one's teens.