spawn

¹spawn

verb \ˈspȯn, ˈspän\

Definition of SPAWN

intransitive verb

1

: to deposit or fertilize spawn

2

: to produce young especially in large numbers

transitive verb

1

a : to produce or deposit (eggs) —used of an aquatic animal b : to induce (fish) to spawn c : to plant with mushroom spawn

2

: bring forth, generate <the idea spawned controversy>

— spawn·er noun

Examples of SPAWN

1. The health-food craze spawned a multimillion-dollar industry.
2. the incident that spawned a generation of student protests
3. a TV show that spawned a host of imitations

Origin of SPAWN

Middle English, from Anglo-French espandre to spread out, shed, scatter, spawn, from Latin expandere to expand

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to SPAWN

Synonyms: beget, breed, bring, bring about, bring on, catalyze, cause, create, do, draw on, effectuate, engender, generate, induce, invoke, make, occasion, produce, prompt, result (in), effect, translate (into), work, yield

Related Words: conduce (to), contribute (to); decide, determine; begin, establish, father, found, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, institute, introduce, launch, pioneer, set, set up, start; advance, cultivate, develop, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote; enact, render, turn out

Near Antonyms: impede, limit, restrict; clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, dampen, put down, quash, quell, repress, smother, squash, squelch, stifle, subdue, suppress; arrest, check, control, curb, inhibit, rein (in), restrain, retard; can [slang], kill, snuff (out), still; abolish, demolish, destroy, extinguish, liquidate, quench

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