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imaginal

American  
[ih-mey-guh-nl, ih-mah-] / ɪˈmeɪ gə nl, ɪˈmɑ- /

adjective

Entomology.
  1. of, relating to, or having the form of an imago.


imaginal British  
/ ɪˈmædʒɪnəl /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or resembling an imago

  2. of or relating to an image

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of imaginal

1875–80; < New Latin imāgin-, stem of imāgō imago + -al 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

All that was now dissolving, back into imaginal discs of emotion.

From Slate • Feb. 25, 2023

As roots reggae’s foremost producer, Perry, wrote essayist and musician David Toop, built “an imaginal chamber over which presided the electronic wizard, evangelist, gossip columnist and Dr. Frankenstein.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 30, 2021

With very few exceptions, the whole of the caterpillar literally dissolves, so a few specialised cells known as imaginal disks can feed off the resultant slop and grow into butterflies.

From The Guardian • Sep. 22, 2015

In some nemertine species, a pilidium larva may develop inside the young worm, from a series of imaginal discs.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Generally the larval is the feeding, the imaginal the breeding, stage of the life-cycle.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 4 "Hero" to "Hindu Chronology" by Various