spawn
(redirected from spawns)Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia.
spawn
(spôn)n.
1. The eggs of aquatic animals such as bivalve mollusks, fishes, and amphibians.
2. Offspring, especially when occurring in large numbers.
3. A product or an outcome: the spawn of a prodigious imagination.
4. Mycelia of mushrooms or other fungi grown in specially prepared organic matter for planting in beds.
v. spawned, spawn·ing, spawns
v.intr.
1. To deposit eggs; produce spawn.
2. To produce offspring in large numbers.
v.tr.
1. To produce or deposit (spawn).
2. To produce (offspring).
3. To produce or give rise to: tyranny that spawned revolt.
4. To plant with mycelia grown in specially prepared organic matter.
[Middle English spawne, from spawnen, to spawn, from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Latin expandere; see expand.]
spawn′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
spawn
(spɔːn)n
1. (Zoology) the mass of eggs deposited by fish, amphibians, or molluscs
2. often derogatory offspring, product, or yield
3. (Botany) botany the nontechnical name for mycelium
vb
4. (Zoology) (of fish, amphibians, etc) to produce or deposit (eggs)
5. often derogatory (of people) to produce (offspring)
6. (tr) to produce or engender
[C14: from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Old French spandre to spread out, expand]
ˈspawner n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
spawn
(spɔn)n.
1. the mass of eggs deposited in the water by fishes, amphibians, and other aquatic creatures.
2. the mycelium of mushrooms, esp. of the species grown for the market.
3. a swarming brood; numerous progeny.
4. (used with a sing. or pl. v.) any person or thing regarded as the offspring of some stock, idea, etc.
v.i. 5. to deposit eggs or sperm directly into the water.
v.t. 6. to produce (spawn).
7. to give birth to; give rise to: His disappearance spawned many rumors.
8. to produce in large number.
9. to plant with mycelium.
[1350–1400; Middle English (v.), probably < Anglo-French espaundre (Old French espandre) to expand]
spawn′er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
spawn
(spôn)Noun
1. The eggs of water animals such as fish, amphibians, and mollusks.
2. Offspring produced in large numbers.
Verb
To lay eggs; produce spawn.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
spawn
Past participle: spawned
Gerund: spawning
Imperative |
---|
spawn |
spawn |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
spawn
To lay many small eggs, as do fish, for example.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun | 1. | ![]() egg - animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum or embryo together with nutritive and protective envelopes; especially the thin-shelled reproductive body laid by e.g. female birds roe - the egg mass or spawn of certain crustaceans such as the lobster |
Verb | 1. | spawn - call forth |
2. | spawn - lay spawn; "The salmon swims upstream to spawn" spat - spawn; "oysters spat" lay - lay eggs; "This hen doesn't lay" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
spawn
noun
verb
1. generate, produce, give rise to, start, prompt, provoke, set off, bring about, spark off, set in motion His novels spawned both movies and television shows.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
spawn
verb1. To produce sexually or asexually others of one's kind:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
spawn
(spoːn) noun the eggs of fish, frogs etc. In the spring, the pond is full of frog-spawn.huevas
verbKernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.