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Fetus vs Larva - What's the difference?

fetus | larva |

As nouns the difference between fetus and larva

is that fetus is an unborn or unhatched vertebrate showing signs of the mature animal while larva is an early stage of growth for some insects and amphibians, in which after hatching from their egg, insects are wingless and resemble a caterpillar or grub, and amphibians lack limbs and resemble fish.

fetus

English

Alternative forms

* foetus * * (chiefly Canadian and US) fetus * phoetus, * faetus,

Noun

(es)
  • (Canada, US) An unborn or unhatched vertebrate showing signs of the mature animal.
  • (Canada, US) A human embryo after the 8th week of gestation.
  • The sequence is; molecules in reproductive systems, then gametes, zygotes, morulas, blastocysts, and then fetuses .

    Usage notes

    * The form fetus is preferred in North America and in the scientific community, whereas foetus is still commonly used in Commonwealth nations.

    Derived terms

    * (l)

    See also

    * embryo * ("fetus" on Wikipedia)

    References

    * Health Online

    Anagrams

    * ----

    larva

    English

    (wikipedia larva)

    Noun

  • An early stage of growth for some insects and amphibians, in which after hatching from their egg, insects are wingless and resemble a caterpillar or grub, and amphibians lack limbs and resemble fish.
  • An animal in the aforementioned stage.
  • A form of a recently born or hatched animal that is quite different from its adult stage.
  • Usage notes

    Although the plural (larvas) is somewhat common, it is regarded by some as incorrect.