[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/larva/)

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# larva

noun (a larva, larvae)

«larva» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

The young form of an insect (and some other animals, like frogs and fish) after it hatches from the egg and before it changes into an adult; it often looks like a worm, such as a caterpillar or a maggot. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/larva/#m1)

### In the lessons

In science: life cycles — egg, larva, pupa, adult — this is complete metamorphosis (butterflies, beetles, flies). Caterpillars are butterfly larvae; maggots are fly larvae; tadpoles are sometimes called frog larvae. Phrases: «insect larvae», «mosquito larvae», «the larva stage».

### Examples

- A caterpillar is the larva of a butterfly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/larva/#x1)
- The larva hatched from a tiny egg. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/larva/#x2)
- Mosquito larvae live in still water. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/larva/#x3)
- The larva eats and grows before it becomes a pupa. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/larva/#x4)
- Maggots are the larvae of flies. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/larva/#x5)
- We drew the life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/larva/#x6)
- Ladybird larvae look like tiny spiky crocodiles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/larva/#x7)

### Note

Plural: larvae (said LAR-vee), from Latin; «larvas» is rare. Adjective: larval. Do not confuse with «lava» (hot melted rock from a volcano).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «larva» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/larva/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«larva» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/larva.html) on Mova free.