imps

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   Small, mischievous supernatural creatures, often depicted as minor devils or playful spirits.

   Grammar: Countable noun; the singular is 'imp'. Use 'an imp' for one, 'imps' for more than one.

   Patterns

   • a group of imps
   • like imps

   The old story says that imps hide in the forest and play tricks on travelers.

   In the painting, a crowd of imps dances around the wizard's cauldron.

   Children dressed as imps for the Halloween parade, with little horns and tails.

2. 2nouncountableinformalhumorous

   Young children who behave in a naughty or playful way.

   Grammar: Countable noun, usually used in the plural for a group of children. It is an informal, affectionate use.

   Patterns

   • little imps
   • you little imps

   The twins are little imps—they hid their father's keys again.

   She laughed and called the children 'you little imps' after they covered the kitchen in flour.

Word forms

Common combinations

little imps

The little imps ran through the garden, giggling.

a group of imps

A group of imps appeared in the fairy tale to cause trouble.

mischievous imps

The mischievous imps turned all the milk sour.

like imps

They scattered like imps when the teacher returned.

Synonyms and how they differ

goblins

Goblins are also small supernatural creatures, but they are usually uglier and more malicious than imps.

sprites

Sprites are nature spirits, often associated with water or air, and are less devilish than imps.

rascals

Rascals are naughty people, especially children, but the word does not imply anything supernatural.

Word family

imp noun

The singular form, meaning one small mischievous creature or a naughty child.

impish adjective

Describing someone or something that is mischievous in a playful way, like an imp.

impishly adverb

In a playful, mischievous manner.

Commonly confused: imps or imp?

Practice

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