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’.