n. [ L. nympha nymph, bride, young woman, Gr. ny`mfh: cf. F. nymphe. Cf. Nuptial. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Class. Myth.) A goddess of the mountains, forests, meadows, or waters. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where were ye, nymphs, when the remorseless deep
Closed o'er the head of your loved Lycidas? Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: A lovely young girl; a maiden; a damsel. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nymph, in thy orisons
Be all my sins remembered. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) The pupa of an insect; a chrysalis. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Zool.) Any one of a subfamily (Najades) of butterflies including the purples, the fritillaries, the peacock butterfly, etc.; -- called also naiad. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Nymphae [ L. See Nymph a goddess. ] 1. (Zool.) Same as Nymph, 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pl. (Anat.) Two folds of mucous membrane, within the labia, at the opening of the vulva. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖prop. n. [ L., the water lily, Gr. &unr_;. ] (Bot.) A genus of aquatic plants having showy flowers (white, blue, pink, or yellow, often fragrant), including the white water lily and the Egyptia lotus. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Recent critics have endeavored to show that this genus should be called Castalia, and the name Nymphaea transferred to what is now known as Nuphar. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. A natural family of dicot aquatic plants.
Syn. -- family Nymphaeaceae, water-lily family. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Of or pertaining to a nymph or nymphs; nymphean. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. pl. [ NL. ] (Zool.) Same as Nymphalidae, an extensive family of butterflies including the nymphs, the satyrs, the monarchs, the heliconias, and others; -- called also brush-footed butterflies. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Any butterfly of the family Nymphalidae, consisting of medium to large butterflies found worldwide, typically having brightly colored wings and much-reduced nonfunctional forelegs carried folded on the breast.
Syn. -- nymphalid butterfly, brush-footed butterfly, four-footed butterfly. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prop. n. A natural family of large beautifully colored butterflies, called also the brush-footed butterflies; formerly called Nymphales.
Syn. -- family Nymphalidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prop. n. The type genus of the Nymphalidae, including the mourning cloak butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa).
Syn. -- genus Nymphalis. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_;. See Nymph. ] Of, pertaining to, or appropriate to, nymphs; inhabited by nymphs; as, a nymphean cave. [ 1913 Webster ]