Zoology. the mass of eggs deposited by fishes, amphibians, mollusks, crustaceans, etc.
Mycology. the mycelium of mushrooms, especially of the species grown for the market.
Usually Disparaging.a swarming brood; numerous progeny:Diners at the restaurant were annoyed by the two inconsiderate parents and their unruly spawn.
any person or thing regarded as the offspring of some stock, idea, etc.
adjective
of or relating to the spawning of a character or item in a video game:a spawn point;the spawn rate.
verb (used without object)
to deposit eggs or sperm directly into the water, as fishes.
(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)
to produce (spawn).
to give birth to; give rise to: His sudden disappearance spawned many rumors.
to produce in large number.
to plant with mycelium.
Origin of spawn
1350–1400;Middle Englishspawnen (v.), probably < Anglo-Frenchespaundre (Old Frenchespandre) to expand
early 15c., from Anglo-French espaundre, Old French espandre "to spread out, pour out," from Latin expandere (see expand). The notion is of a "spreading out" of fish eggs released in water. The meaning "to engender, give rise to" is attested from 1590s. Related: Spawned; spawning.
n.
early 15c., from spawn (v.); figurative sense of "brood, offspring" is from 1580s.
