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spawn

Pronunciation: /spɔːn/

The English word “spawn” has 16 meanings listed here.

verb

  1. To produce or deposit (eggs) in water.
  2. To generate, bring into being, especially nonmammalian beings in very large numbers.
  3. To bring forth in general.
  4. To induce (aquatic organisms) to spawn.
  5. To plant with fungal spawn.
  6. To deposit (numerous) eggs in water.
  7. To reproduce, especially in large numbers.
  8. To appear, or cause (something or someone) to appear, spontaneously in a game world at a particular place and time.
  9. To appear, or cause (something or someone) to appear, unexpectedly and seemingly out of nowhere.
  10. Of a person or non-egglaying animal: to be born.

noun

  1. The numerous eggs of an aquatic organism.
  2. Mushroom mycelium prepared for (aided) propagation.
  3. Any germ or seed, even a figurative source.
  4. Children; offspring.
  5. The buds or branches produced from underground stems.
  6. Synonym of spawn point.

Etymology

Recorded since 1413; from Middle English spawnen, from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Old French espandre, from Latin expandere (“stretch out; spread out”, verb). Doublet of expand. Compare also Middle English spalden, spolden, spawden (“to cut open (a fish)”).

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