Nymph (nĭmf), n. [L. nympha nymph, bride, young woman, Gr. νύμφη: cf. F. nymphe. Cf. Nuptial.]
1. (Class. Myth.) A goddess of the mountains, forests, meadows, or waters.
Where were ye, nymphs, when the remorseless deep
Closed o'er the head of your loved Lycidas? Milton.
2. Hence: A lovely young girl; a maiden; a damsel.
Nymph, in thy orisons
Be all my sins remembered. Shak.
3. (Zoöl.) The pupa of an insect; a chrysalis.
4. (Zoöl.) Any one of a subfamily (Najades) of butterflies including the purples, the fritillaries, the peacock butterfly, etc.; — called also naiad.