---
title: larva — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «larva» in the school dictionary: The young form of an insect (and some other animals, like frogs and fish) after it hatches from the egg and before it changes into an adult; it often looks like a worm, such as a caterpillar or a maggot. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmat
---

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# larva

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** young form, form, caterpillar, larva, Mosquito larvae, Maggots · **What happens:** hatch, change, look, form, be, live · **To what, where:** egg, insect, larva, water, pupa, larvae

<!-- .vabout -->
«larva» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [larva in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/larva.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The young form of an insect (and some other animals, like frogs and fish) after it hatches from the egg and before it changes into an adult; it often looks like a worm, such as a caterpillar or a maggot.

<!-- fold The tree, 40 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:larva:m1:1
# text = The young form of an insect (and some other animals, like frogs and fish) after it hatches from the egg and before it changes into an adult; it often looks like a worm, such as a caterpillar or a maggot.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	insect	insect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	11	det	_	_
10	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	frogs	frog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	11	punct	_	_
18	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
20	hatches	hatch	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
21	from	from	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	egg	egg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
25	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	27	mark	_	_
26	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	27	nsubj	_	_
27	changes	change	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	24	advcl	_	_
28	into	into	ADP	IN	_	30	case	_	_
29	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	34	punct	_	_
32	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	34	nsubj	_	_
33	often	often	ADV	RB	_	34	advmod	_	_
34	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	conj	_	_
35	like	like	ADP	IN	_	37	case	_	_
36	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	37	det	_	_
37	worm	worm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	34	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
38	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	42	punct	_	_
39	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	42	case	_	_
40	as	as	ADP	IN	_	39	fixed	_	_
41	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	42	det	_	_
42	caterpillar	caterpillar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	37	conj	_	_
43	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	45	cc	_	_
44	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	45	det	_	_
45	maggot	maggot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	37	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
46	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	20	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hatch** | present | the young form of a insect | the egg |  |  |  |  | vn grow-26.2.1 «NP V NP.product PP.patient»: agent=Agent egg=Product |
| 2 | **change** | present | form |  |  |  |  | into a adult *result* | vn turn-26.6.1-1 «NP.patient V PP.result»: agent=Patient into adult=Result |
| 3 | **look** | present | form |  |  |  |  | like a worm and a caterpillar or a maggot; often *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 4 | **form** |  |  | a insect |  |  |  |  | nom form «communication transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A caterpillar is the larva of a butterfly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:larva:x1:1
# text = A caterpillar is the larva of a butterfly.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	caterpillar	caterpillar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	larva	larva	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	butterfly	butterfly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a caterpillar | the larva |  |  |  | of a butterfly | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The larva hatched from a tiny egg.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:larva:x2:1
# text = The larva hatched from a tiny egg.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	larva	larva	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hatched	hatch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	egg	egg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hatch** | past | the larva |  |  |  |  | from a tiny egg | vn grow-26.2.1 «NP.product V PP.patient»: agent=Product from egg=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mosquito larvae live in still water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:larva:x3:1
# text = Mosquito larvae live in still water.
1	Mosquito	mosquito	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	larvae	larva	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	still	still	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Mosquito larvae |  |  | water |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in water=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The larva eats and grows before it becomes a pupa.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:larva:x4:1
# text = The larva eats and grows before it becomes a pupa.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	larva	larva	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	eats	eat	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
6	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	becomes	become	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	pupa	pupa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | the larva |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **grow** | present | the larva *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **become** | present | larva | a pupa |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Maggots are the larvae of flies.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:larva:x5:1
# text = Maggots are the larvae of flies.
1	Maggots	maggot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	larvae	larva	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	flies	fly	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Maggots | the larvae |  |  |  | of flies | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We drew the life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:larva:x6:1
# text = We drew the life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	drew	draw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	cycle	cycle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	egg	egg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	larva	larva	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	pupa	pupa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | past | We | the life cycle |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cycle=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ladybird larvae look like tiny spiky crocodiles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:larva:x7:1
# text = Ladybird larvae look like tiny spiky crocodiles.
1	Ladybird	ladybird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	larvae	larva	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	spiky	spiky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	crocodiles	crocodile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | Ladybird larvae |  |  |  |  | like tiny spiky crocodiles | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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