Nearby Words
noun
1.
Zoology. the mass of eggs deposited by fishes, amphibians, mollusks, crustaceans, etc.
2.
Mycology. the mycelium of mushrooms, especially of the species grown for the market.
3.
a swarming brood; numerous progeny.
4.
(used with a singular or plural verb) any person or thing regarded as the offspring of some stock, idea, etc.
verb (used without object)
5.
to deposit eggs or sperm directly into the water, as fishes.
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Spawner
is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
verb (used with object)
6.
to produce (spawn).
7.
to give birth to; give rise to: His sudden disappearance spawned many rumors.
8.
to produce in large number.
9.
to plant with mycelium.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English spawnen (v.), probably < Anglo-French espaundre (Old French espandre) to expand
1350–1400; Middle English spawnen (v.), probably < Anglo-French espaundre (Old French espandre) to expand
Related forms
spawn·er, noun
un·spawned, adjective
Synonyms
7. engender, generate, yield, beget.
7. engender, generate, yield, beget.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To spawner
Collins
World English Dictionary
| spawn (spɔːn) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | the mass of eggs deposited by fish, amphibians, or molluscs |
| 2. | derogatory often offspring, product, or yield |
| 3. | botany the nontechnical name for mycelium |
| —vb | |
| 4. | (of fish, amphibians, etc) to produce or deposit (eggs) |
| 5. | derogatory often (of people) to produce (offspring) |
| 6. | (tr) to produce or engender |
| [C14: from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Old French spandre to spread out, | |
| 'spawner | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
spawn
1413, from Anglo-Fr. espaundre, O.Fr. espandre "to spread out, pour out," from L. expandere (see expand). The notion is of a "spreading out" of fish eggs released in water. The meaning "to engender, give rise to" is attested from 1594. The noun is first recorded c.1430; fig.
EXPANDsense of "brood, offspring" is from 1590.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
spawn  (spôn) Pronunciation Key
Noun
Verb To lay eggs; produce spawn. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.