offspring

off·spring

noun \ˈȯf-ˌspriŋ\

plural offspring also offsprings

Definition of OFFSPRING

1

a : the product of the reproductive processes of an animal or plant : young, progeny

b : child

2

a : product, result <scholarly manuscripts—the labored offsprings of PhDs — Donna Martin>

b : offshoot 1a

Examples of OFFSPRING

1. The disease can be transmitted from parent to offspring.
2. The show is about two couples and the adventures of their rebellious offspring.
3. The colt is the offspring of two racing champions.

Origin of OFFSPRING

Middle English ofspring, from Old English, from of off + springan to spring

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to OFFSPRING

Synonyms

fruit, get, issue, posterity, progeny, seed, spawn

Related Words

brood, hatch, litter, young; child, scion; family, kin; lineage, stock

Near Antonyms

ancestor, antecedent, father, forebear (also forbear), forebearer, forefather, grandfather, parent, primogenitor, progenitor

Other Biology Terms

autochthonous, fecund, homunculus, phylogeny, substrate

Rhymes with OFFSPRING

Anqing, backswing, Baoding, bedspring, Beijing, bi-swing, bitewing, bowstring, bullring, Chongqing, clearwing, downswing, drawstring, D ring, earring, first-string, forewing, G-string, greenwing, growth ring, hairspring, hamstring, handspring, headspring, heartstring, hind wing, hot spring, Kunming, lacewing, lapwing, latchstring, left-wing, mainspring, Nanjing, Nan Ling, Nanning, O-ring, plaything, redwing, right-wing, seal ring, shoestring, slip ring, sure thing, unsling, unstring, upspring, upswing, waxwing, wellspring, whitewing, wingding, Xining

off·spring

noun \ˈȯf-ˌspriŋ\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; offspringalso ; offsprings

Medical Definition of OFFSPRING

: the progeny of an animal or plant : young