I. ˈspȯn, ˈspän verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French espandre to spread out, shed, scatter, spawn, from Latin expandere to expand
Date: 15th century
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 spawn ed controversy
• spawn·er noun
II. noun
Date: 15th century
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