n.
- a mythological spirit of nature imagined as a beautiful young woman.
▸literary a beautiful young woman.
- an immature form of a dragonfly or other insect that does not undergo complete metamorphosis.
Derivative
- nymphal adj.
- nymphean adj.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. nimphe, from L. nympha, from Gk numphē ‘nymph, bride’.