spawn

[ spawn ]

noun

, plural spawn, spawns.

1. Zoology. the mass of eggs deposited by fishes, amphibians, mollusks, crustaceans, etc.
2. Mycology. the mycelium of mushrooms, especially of the species grown for the market.
3. Usually Disparaging. a swarming brood; numerous progeny:

   Diners at the restaurant were annoyed by the two inconsiderate parents and their unruly spawn.

4. any person or thing regarded as the offspring of some stock, idea, etc.

adjective

1. of or relating to the spawning of a character or item in a video game: the spawn rate.

   a spawn point;

   the spawn rate.

verb (used without object)

1. to deposit eggs or sperm directly into the water, as fishes.
2. (of a character or item in a video game) to originate at a fixed point in an existing game environment:

   An enemy character just spawned right on top of me!

verb (used with object)

1. to produce (spawn).
2. to give birth to; give rise to:

   His sudden disappearance spawned many rumors.

   Synonyms: beget, yield, generate, engender

3. to produce in large number.
4. to plant with mycelium.

spawn

/ spɔːn /

noun

1. the mass of eggs deposited by fish, amphibians, or molluscs
2. derogatory.
   offspring, product, or yield
3. botany the nontechnical name for mycelium

verb

1. (of fish, amphibians, etc) to produce or deposit (eggs)
2. derogatory.
   (of people) to produce (offspring)
3. tr to produce or engender

spawn

/ spôn /

Noun

1. The eggs of water animals such as fish, amphibians, and mollusks.
2. Offspring produced in large numbers.

Verb

1. To lay eggs; produce spawn.

Derived Forms

• ˈspawner, noun

Other Words From

• spawner noun
• un·spawned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spawn¹

1350–1400; Middle English spawnen (v.), probably < Anglo-French espaundre ( Old French espandre ) to expand

Word History and Origins

Origin of spawn¹

C14: from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Old French spandre to spread out, expand

Example Sentences

Might “The Roommate” follow in the footsteps of “The Odd Couple” and spawn a movie and a sitcom?

From Los Angeles Times

There is deep interest in who Satoshi Nakamoto is in part because they are considered a revolutionary programmer who helped spawn the crypto industry.

From BBC

America’s gender troubles helped to spawn the Age of Trump and the democracy crisis we currently face.

From Salon

The election may be too close to call, Donald Trump may again have declared victory, and the uncertainty of not knowing who the next president is for a few days may spawn much greater problems.

From Slate

The salmon are just starting to spawn, and biologists plan to continue surveys to track how many fish spawn and die along the Klamath during the next couple of months.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• create
• generate