Lär'vā, n.

n.: pl. LÄR'-VÆ. [Lat. larva, ghost, specter, mask; It. & Sp. larva, Fr. & Ger. larve.]

1. (Entom.) An insect in the first stage after leaving the egg, in the metamorphoses of insects, and which precedes the pupa or chrysalis state; a caterpillar, grub, or maggot.
2. The early, immature form of an animal when more or less of a metamorphosis takes place, before the assumption of the mature shape.