nymph

• Nom avec plusieurs sens : dans la mythologie classique, divinité mineure de la nature représentée comme une belle jeune fille ; en entomologie, stade larvaire d'un insecte à métamorphose incomplète ; ou, au sens figuré, jeune femme d'une beauté sensuelle.

A noun with multiple meanings: in classical mythology, a minor nature goddess depicted as a beautiful maiden; in entomology, the larval stage of an insect with incomplete metamorphosis; or, in a figurative sense, a voluptuously beautiful young woman.

1. Mythological spiritB2formal

   A minor female deity in classical mythology, often associated with a particular natural location like a forest, river, or mountain, and typically depicted as a beautiful young woman.

   Nymphe (divinité mineure de la mythologie classique)

   • The ancient Greeks believed that a nymph lived in every spring.
   • In the story, the hunter fell in love with a forest nymph.
   • Sculptures of nymphs often adorned Roman gardens.

   Synonymesfairyspritesylph

2. Insect stageB2formal

   An immature form of certain insects, such as dragonflies or grasshoppers, that resembles the adult but lacks fully developed wings and reproductive organs.

   nymphe (stade immature)

   • The dragonfly nymph lives underwater before emerging as an adult.
   • A mayfly nymph can take several years to develop.
   • The biologist studied the nymph stage of the grasshopper.

   Synonymesnaiad

3. Attractive young womanC1informal

   A literary or informal term for a young woman who is considered exceptionally beautiful and alluring.

   jeune femme très belle et attirante

   • The poet described her as a nymph dancing through the meadow.
   • She moved with the grace of a nymph.
   • In the novel, the mysterious nymph captivated everyone at the ball.

   Synonymesbeautybelleenchantressgoddessnymphetsirenstunnersylphvenusvision