English Dictionary
Definition of “spawn”
spawn (spɔːn
)
Definitions
noun
- the mass of eggs deposited by fish, amphibians, or molluscs
- often derogatory offspring, product, or yield
- botany the nontechnical name for mycelium
verb
- (of fish, amphibians, etc) to produce or deposit (eggs)
- often derogatory (of people) to produce (offspring)
- (tr) to produce or engender
Alternative Forms
ˈspawner noun Word Origin
C14: from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Old French spandre to spread out, expand
Usage examples
They seemed to spawn all around me, to fasten to me and suck the life from me like cold leeches.
Robin Hobb, THE GOLDEN FOOL: Book Two of the Tawny Man (2002)Over a few days every November, corals spawn all over the reef, releasing larvae into the water.
New Scientist (2003)But there are strategies which intending or new parents can adopt to meet the endless overheads their newborn will spawn.
Courier, Sunday Mail (2004)Our young are seen either as little angels or as the " spawn of Satan" epitomised by James Bulger's killers.
Times, Sunday Times (2001)Oysters grow fatter in different waters from those in which they spawn.
Smith, Drew, Food Watch (1994)
