nymph

IPA/nɪmf/
KK[nˈɪmf]IPA/nɪmf/

nymph — noun

  • nymphsingular
  • nymphsplural

1. A female nature spirit from the myths of Greece and Rome who lives in forests, r

1.nounB2
Definition

A female nature spirit from the myths of Greece and Rome who lives in forests, rivers, or mountains and is imagined as a beautiful young woman.

Example

Stefan read about a river nymph who guided lost sailors safely to shore.

collocation: river nymph

The old temple stood beside a spring where villagers once prayed to a water nymph.

Common collocations
  • river nymph
  • water nymph
  • tree nymph
  • forest nymph
  • mountain nymph
  • sea nymph
Synonyms
  • dryad

    specifically a tree nymph, especially of oak trees

  • naiad

    specifically a water nymph of rivers, springs, or fountains

  • sprite

    a broader term for a fairy-like creature, not limited to classical myth

Usage Note

In classical mythology, different kinds of nymphs were named after the places they inhabited: dryads lived in trees, naiads in fresh water, and oreads in mountains.

2. An insect in its immature stage that closely resembles the adult but lacks fully

2.nounC1
Definition

An insect in its immature stage that closely resembles the adult but lacks fully developed wings and reproductive organs.

Example

Lucía found a dragonfly nymph clinging to a reed at the edge of the pond.

collocation: dragonfly nymph

A cockroach nymph looks much like the adult but is much smaller and has no wings.

Common collocations
  • dragonfly nymph
  • mayfly nymph
  • cockroach nymph
  • grasshopper nymph
  • damselfly nymph
  • nymph stage

Usage Note

Distinguish from 'larva': a nymph already looks like a smaller version of the adult insect, while a larva (such as a caterpillar or maggot) looks completely different and must pass through a pupal stage before becoming an adult.

Common Mistakes

The caterpillar is a nymph of the butterfly.
The caterpillar is a larva of the butterfly.
A nymph already resembles the adult insect; a caterpillar looks entirely different and goes through a chrysalis stage first.

3. A beautiful young woman, used especially in poetry and older literature as a ter

3.nounC1
Definition

A beautiful young woman, used especially in poetry and older literature as a term of praise.

Example

The poet described his beloved as a gentle nymph walking barefoot through the meadow.

literary register: nymph as poetic term for a beloved woman

In the old novel, the hero falls for a mysterious nymph he meets beside a fountain.

Synonyms
  • maiden

    also literary, but emphasises youth and innocence rather than beauty

  • beauty

    can refer to anyone beautiful, male or female, and is not restricted to literature

Usage Note

This sense is rare in modern everyday English. It appears mostly in older poetry and novels, often with a romantic or idealized tone.

Word family

  • nymphal
    adjectiveC2
  • nymphet
    nounC2
  • nymph-like
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A nymph is specifically a female nature spirit from Greek and Roman mythology, tied to a particular natural feature such as a tree, river, or mountain. A sprite is a more general fairy-like creature from European folklore, often mischievous and not bound to classical myth. A dryad is a specific type of nymph that lives in trees, especially oak trees — every dryad is a nymph, but not every nymph is a dryad. A naiad is a water nymph from Greek mythology, presiding over fresh water such as rivers, springs, and fountains. A fairy is a broader, cross-cultural term for a magical being, not limited to the classical world — fairies appear in many traditions and are not necessarily female or tied to a single natural feature. Example: 'The old fresco showed a forest nymph beside an oak, which you might call a dryad; in the background, a naiad rose from the stream, while a tiny sprite hid among the mushrooms.'

sprite ↗dryad ↗naiad ↗fairy ↗

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'nymph' comes from Latin 'nympha' and Greek 'nymphē', which originally meant 'bride' or 'young wife'. In Greek mythology, it came to refer to female nature spirits imagined as beautiful young women living in forests, waters, and mountains. The scientific sense — an immature insect that resembles the adult form — developed in the 17th century from the idea of a creature that had not yet reached its final, mature stage. The literary sense of 'a beautiful young woman' grew out of the mythological meaning.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1