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

²spawn

noun

Definition of SPAWN

1

: the eggs of aquatic animals (as fishes or oysters) that lay many small eggs

2

: product, offspring; also : offspring in great numbers

3

: the seed, germ, or source of something

4

: mycelium especially prepared (as in bricks) for propagating mushrooms

Examples of SPAWN

1. Pacific salmon return to Alaskan streams to deposit their spawn.
2. <sometimes I think those little brats are the spawn of Satan himself>

First Known Use of SPAWN

15th century

Related to SPAWN

Synonyms

fruit, get, issue, posterity, progeny, seed, offspring

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 Zoology Terms

altruism, integument