spawn

[ spawn ]

/ spɔn /

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See synonyms for: spawn / spawned / spawning on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural spawn, spawns.

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR spawn

9 engender, generate, yield, beget.

See synonyms for spawn on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of spawn

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

OTHER WORDS FROM spawn

spawner, nounun·spawned, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use spawn in a sentence

The coincidence spawned endless jokes and memes across social media.
Supernatural’s bonkers series finale marked the end of an era of fandom|Aja Romano|November 20, 2020|Vox
The fashionable appeal spawned a skiing boom and, for a time, made glissé a national pastime.
How COVID-19 Could Actually Be Good for Skiing|Marc Peruzzi|November 20, 2020|Outside Online
There are sometimes small companies that have spawned half a dozen interesting companies and other dynamics.
Why so many valuable startups seem like the dumbest idea at first|Lucinda Shen|November 13, 2020|Fortune
The story dogged him for days, as he canceled at least one event, and spawned more rumors about his personal life.
The Trailer: Is this the future of the GOP?|David Weigel|October 20, 2020|Washington Post

In the Tongass, stands of ancient trees provide wintering habitat for deer and are critical for stream health and spawning habitat.
Loggers could soon slice through one of the most important forests in the US|By Bjorn Dihle/ Outdoor Life|September 30, 2020|Popular-Science
But contemporary classical music has changed, and the field is now spawning many appealing and genre-bending works.
The Best Albums of 2014|Ted Gioia|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I mean, can you imagine Blazing Saddles being released today without it spawning multiple lawsuits and a trillion thinkpieces?
Seth MacFarlane’s ‘A Million Ways to Die in the West’ Is Yet Another Failed Spoof|Alex Suskind|May 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But it did, spawning books, blogs, and movies—and there is little sign of the case going away anytime soon.
Italian Court Explains Why It Overturned Amanda Knox’s Acquittal|Barbie Latza Nadeau|June 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But the film has achieved a kind of cult status, spawning two direct-to-DVD sequels and an upcoming Spider-Man-like reboot.
What Happened to Big-Screen Hunk Casper Van Dien?|Ramin Setoodeh|July 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Christina Aguilera flubbed the lyrics of the national anthem, spawning a public uproar.
How Many Americans Know the Star Spangled Banner?|Clark Merrefield|February 10, 2011|DAILY BEAST
There 171 are a great many streams at Port Royal, and among them three or four where the fish swarm in the spawning season.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
But the step that would raise one above all the little fumbling, blind-spawning, life hugging bipeds who infested the scene.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
In August and September the females gather about the mouths of gravelly brooks, whither they resort to make their spawning beds.
Birds and All Nature, Vol. VI, No. 3, October 1899|Various
As soon as the fish are nearly ready for spawning, all their digestive parts shrivel up, so that they can't eat.
The Boy With the U. S. Fisheries|Francis Rolt-Wheeler
The spawning fish, flabby and useless, are killed in winter.
Angling Sketches|Andrew Lang

British Dictionary definitions for spawn

spawn

/ (spɔːn) /

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

Derived forms of spawn

spawner, noun

Word Origin for spawn

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

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

Scientific definitions for spawn

spawn

[ spôn ]

Noun

The eggs of water animals such as fish, amphibians, and mollusks.

Offspring produced in large numbers.

Verb

To lay eggs; produce spawn.

spawn

OTHER WORDS FOR spawn

Origin of spawn

OTHER WORDS FROM spawn

Words related to spawn

How to use spawn in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for spawn

Derived forms of spawn

Word Origin for spawn

Scientific definitions for spawn