French Conversation · Level 70
59 words
French word
larvaire
Pronunciation
IPA/laʁvɛʁ/
Meaning
- adjectivelarval
Example
La grenouille est encore au stade larvaire.
The frog is still at the larval stage.
More examples
On parle souvent d'un état larvaire pour signifier qu'une idée est très peu développée.
People often refer to a larval state to mean that an idea is very underdeveloped.
Core concept
The temporary, immature form of an organism before its transformation into an adult.
Common phrases
au stade larvaire
at the larval stage
Similar words
jeune: Still young in age or development.
immature: Insufficiently developed and not yet mature.
Definition in French
Relatif à la larve ou caractéristique d'une larve, en particulier le stade précoce du développement avant la transformation en adulte.
Word origin
Larvaire derives from the noun larve, ultimately from Latin larva, through the productive adjective-forming suffix -aire.
Usage tips
- Larvaire is mainly used in biological contexts, while figurative uses meaning undeveloped or primitive can sound literary and negative.
Opposites
- adulteadultadjective