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larva definition

larva (lär′və)

noun pl. larvae -·vae′ (-vē′) or larvas -·vas

the early, free-living, immature form of any animal that changes structurally when it becomes an adult, usually by a complex metamorphosis the caterpillar is the larva of the butterfly, the tadpole is the larva of the frog

Etymology: L, ghost, specter, akin to lar, household spirit: see lares

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

medical larva definition - medical

larva Synonyms

larva

n.

maggot, grub, caterpillar; see invertebrate, worm 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

larva Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • wasp: Once the parasitoid larva hatches from the egg it will kill and consume the larva of the gall wasp.

Adjective modifier

  • planktonic: However, with no planktonic larva the dispersal of the mutation will be slow.

Modifies a noun

  • migrans: Visceral larva migrans â this form of the disease develops due to severe or repeated toxocariasis infection.

Noun used with modifier

  • mosquito: Coming direct from a cave he found no mosquito larva or sea monsters present.
larva usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"larva." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/larva>

APA Style

larva. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/larva

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