spawn

S1P3A1W4N1
UK/spɔːn/US/spɔn/cot caught merger/spɑn/

verb

To produce or deposit (eggs) in water.

“A frog spawns thousands of tadpoles every year.”

Similar
spawn pointengenderbreed
OriginMiddle English spawnen ← Anglo-Norman espaundre ← Old French espandre →
Less commonScrabble 10
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

spawn1

verbspawn (third-person singular simple present spawns, present participle spawning, simple past and past participle spawned)

present singular third person spawns · participle present spawning · participle past spawned · past spawned

  1. transitiveTo produce or deposit (eggs) in water.

    A frog spawns thousands of tadpoles every year.

  2. transitiveTo generate, bring into being, especially nonmammalian beings in very large numbers.
  3. transitiveTo bring forth in general.

    The web server spawns a new process to handle each client's request.

    1 more example

    Weather Underground, a covert organization that spawned countless other would-be revolutionary cadres - the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), the Black Liberation Army, the May 19 Communist Organization each of which

    2005, McSweeney's Pub., LLC (publisher), The Believer, volume 3, numbers 1-5, page 26
  4. transitiveTo induce (aquatic organisms) to spawn.
  5. transitiveTo plant with fungal spawn.
  6. intransitiveTo deposit (numerous) eggs in water.

    Alewives are anadromous fish: Born in freshwater, they spend their lives in the ocean, returning annually to their birthplaces to spawn.

    2014 April 20, Richard Conniff, “An evolutionary family drama”, in The New York Times
  7. intransitiveTo reproduce, especially in large numbers.
  8. ergativevideo gamesTo appear, or cause (something or someone) to appear, spontaneously in a game world at a particular place and time.

    We put down torches to stop creepers from spawning.

  9. InternetergativefigurativelyTo appear, or cause (something or someone) to appear, unexpectedly and seemingly out of nowhere.

    Where did he come from? Bro just spawned in.

    5 more examples

    Mavs fans really be spawning out of nowhere.

    2022 April 21, @BibsCorner, Twitter, archived from the original on 11 Mar 2024

    So many virgos have spawned in my life lately

    2022 May 24, @ambarlucid, Twitter, archived from the original on 11 Mar 2024

    I swear a new vtuber with 250,000 subscribers and wildly transphobic views just spawns every other fucking week

    2023 March 10, u/beskardboard, “rule”, in Reddit, r/196, archived from the original on 11 Mar 2024

    rizz so strong the bf just spawned out of nowhere

    2023 March 22, @pickuplinesonig, Twitter, archived from the original on 11 Mar 2024

    bro jus spawns in when the word cuck is mentioned

    2023 July 9, @upblissed, Twitter, archived from the original on 11 Mar 2024
  10. InternetfigurativelyhumorousintransitiveOf a person or non-egglaying animal: to be born.

    That kid just spawned and looks like he's already done with life.

    3 more examples

    I spawned in Turkey. I wasn't given an option on difficulty. It was automatically set on the hardest.

    2021 April 16, u/crippl3r, “Life, the game!”, in Reddit, r/teenagers, archived from the original on 11 Mar 2024

    Oh he is entirely too smol! Just spawned and already running a drug ring!! ❤️

    2023 March 15, u/The-Clumsy-Pirate, “This is OB, short for Orca Beaver for obvious reasons. Children's Tylenol 5ml smol syringe for comparisson.”, in Reddit, r/IllegallySmolCats, archived from the original on 11 Mar 2024

    dude literally just spawned and already gave up

    2024 January 11, @bassantaz, Twitter, archived from the original on 11 Mar 2024

spawn2

nounspawn (countable and uncountable, plural spawn or spawns)

plural spawns

  1. countableuncountableThe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism.
  2. countableuncountableMushroom mycelium prepared for (aided) propagation.
  3. countableuncountableAny germ or seed, even a figurative source.

    This dreadful idea is the spawn of a large business conglomerate.

    1. countablederogatoryoftenuncountableChildren; offspring.

      Even the blithely unselfconscious Homer is more than a little freaked out by West’s private reverie, and encourages his spawn to move slowly away without making eye contact with the crazy man.

      2012 June 3, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “Mr. Plow” (season 4, episode 9; originally aired 11/19/1992)”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), archived from the original on 26 Oct 2012
  4. countableuncountableagricultureThe buds or branches produced from underground stems.
  5. countableuncountablevideo gamesSynonym of spawn point.

    Synonyms: spawn point

Spawn3

proper noun
  1. A surname.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounSynonym of spawn point.

Similar
spawn point

More synonyms by meaning

verbcall forth

Similar
engenderbreed
Broader
causedomake
Also see
breedcreatedevelopengenderevolvegenerategin upgive rise toseedset off

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

spawn · verb

  1. Latinexpandere“stretch out; spread out”
  2. Old Frenchespandre
  3. Anglo-Normanespaundre
  4. Middle Englishspawnen
  5. Englishspawn

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)”).

More words from Middle English, Anglo-Norman, Old French

Full word history & related roots →

spawn · noun

  1. Middle Englishspawne
  2. Englishspawn

From Middle English spawne, from the verb (see above).

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian хвърлям хайвер, плодя се
  • хвърлям хайвер (hvărljam hajver)to produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • плодя се (plodja se)to generate, bring into being, especially non-mammalian beings in very large numbers
  • пораждам (poraždam)to bring forth in general
  • размножавам се (razmnožavam se)to reproduce, especially in large numbers
  • хайвер (hajver)the numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
  • мицел (micel)mushroom mycelium prepared for (aided) propagation
  • потомък (potomăk)any germ or seed, even a figurative source; offspring
  • изчадие (izčadie)any germ or seed, even a figurative source; offspring
Catalan fresar, fresa
  • fresarto produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • fresathe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
Chinese 產卵 /产卵
  • 產卵 /产卵 (chǎnluǎn)to produce or deposit (eggs) in water
Chinese Mandarin 生成, 魚子 /鱼子
  • 生成 (shēngchéng)to appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • 魚子 /鱼子 (yúzǐ)the numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
  • 魚卵 /鱼卵 (yúluǎn)the numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
  • 卵 (luǎn)the numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
Czech klást jikry, třít se
  • klást jikryto produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • třít seto produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • stvořitto bring forth in general
  • dát vzniknoutto bring forth in general
  • jikrythe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
  • potěrthe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
  • výplodany germ or seed, even a figurative source; offspring
Danish gyde
  • gydeto produce or deposit (eggs) in water
Dutch kuitschieten, paaien
  • kuitschietento produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • paaiento produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • paaiento reproduce, especially in large numbers
  • spawnento appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • spawnento cause to appear spontaneously in a game
  • kuitthe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
Esperanto estiĝi, ekesti
  • estiĝito appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • ekestito appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • aperito appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • estigito cause to appear spontaneously in a game
  • aperigito cause to appear spontaneously in a game
  • generito cause to appear spontaneously in a game
  • frajothe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
Finnish kutea, lisätä
  • kuteato produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • lisätäto generate, bring into being, especially non-mammalian beings in very large numbers
  • lisätäto bring forth in general
  • synnyttääto bring forth in general
  • kasvattaato bring forth in general
  • kudettaato induce (aquatic organisms) to spawn
  • istuttaato plant with fungal spawn
  • kuteato deposit (numerous) eggs in water
  • siitäto reproduce, especially in large numbers
  • lisääntyäto reproduce, especially in large numbers
  • syntyäto appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • spawnatato appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • kututhe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
  • sienirihmastomushroom mycelium prepared for (aided) propagation
  • lähdeany germ or seed, even a figurative source; offspring
  • alkulähdeany germ or seed, even a figurative source; offspring
French frayer, engendrer
  • frayerto produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • engendrerto generate, bring into being, especially non-mammalian beings in very large numbers
  • engendrerto bring forth in general
  • apparaîtreto appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • poperto appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • fraithe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
  • rejetonany germ or seed, even a figurative source; offspring
German ablaichen, laichen
  • ablaichento produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • laichento produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • erzeugento generate, bring into being, especially non-mammalian beings in very large numbers
  • hervorbringento generate, bring into being, especially non-mammalian beings in very large numbers
  • erzeugento bring forth in general
  • laichento deposit (numerous) eggs in water
  • (sich wie Karnickel) sich vermehrento reproduce, especially in large numbers
  • spawnento appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • erscheinento appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • Laichthe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
  • Fischlaichthe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
  • Froschlaichthe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
  • Myzelfädenmushroom mycelium prepared for (aided) propagation
  • Ausgeburtany germ or seed, even a figurative source; offspring
  • Ausgeburt des Teufelsany germ or seed, even a figurative source; offspring
Hungarian ívik, petéket rak
  • ívikto deposit (numerous) eggs in water
  • petéket rakto deposit (numerous) eggs in water
Icelandic gjóta
  • gjótato produce or deposit (eggs) in water
Indonesian memijah, memijahkan
  • memijahto produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • memijahkanto produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • munculto appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
Irish eochraí
  • eochraíthe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
Italian deporre le uova, generare
  • deporre le uovato produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • generareto bring forth in general
  • dare alla luceto bring forth in general
  • spawnareto appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
Japanese 産卵する, スポーンする
  • 産卵する (sanran suru)to produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • スポーンする (supōn suru)to appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • スポーンさせる (supōn saseru)to cause to appear spontaneously in a game
  • 卵 (tamago)the numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
  • -子the numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
Latin pariō
  • pariōto bring forth in general
Latvian nārstot, nārstot
  • nārstotto produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • nārstotto deposit (numerous) eggs in water
  • ikrithe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
Māori toene, paratau
  • toenethe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
  • paratauany germ or seed, even a figurative source; offspring
Norwegian Bokmål togn
  • tognthe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
Persian تخمریزی, اشپل
  • تخمریزی (toxm-rizi)to produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • اشپل (ešpel)the numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
Polish trzeć się, ikrzyć się
  • trzeć sięto produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • ikrzyć sięto produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • mnożyć sięto reproduce, especially in large numbers
  • pojawić sięto appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • zespawnować sięto appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • ikrathe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
  • skrzekthe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
  • grzybniamushroom mycelium prepared for (aided) propagation
  • pomiotany germ or seed, even a figurative source; offspring
  • nasienieany germ or seed, even a figurative source; offspring
Portuguese desovar, gerar
  • desovarto produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • gerarto generate, bring into being, especially non-mammalian beings in very large numbers
  • gerarto bring forth in general
  • spawnarto appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • ovathe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
Romanian spawna, icre
  • spawnato appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • icrethe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
Russian мета́ть, порожда́ть
  • мета́ть (metátʹ)to produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • порожда́ть (poroždátʹ)to generate, bring into being, especially non-mammalian beings in very large numbers
  • нерести́ться (nerestítʹsja)to deposit (numerous) eggs in water
  • плоди́ться (plodítʹsja)to reproduce, especially in large numbers
  • появиться (pojavitjsja)to appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • заспавниться (zaspavnitjsja)to appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • икра́ (ikrá)the numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
  • грибни́ца (gribníca)mushroom mycelium prepared for (aided) propagation
  • мице́лий (micélij)mushroom mycelium prepared for (aided) propagation
  • спора (spora)mushroom mycelium prepared for (aided) propagation
  • пото́мство (potómstvo)any germ or seed, even a figurative source; offspring
  • вы́водок (vývodok)any germ or seed, even a figurative source; offspring
  • порожде́ние (poroždénije)any germ or seed, even a figurative source; offspring
  • отро́дье (otródʹje)any germ or seed, even a figurative source; offspring
Scottish Gaelic cladh, cladh
  • cladhto produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • cladhto generate, bring into being, especially non-mammalian beings in very large numbers
  • cladhto deposit (numerous) eggs in water
  • cladhthe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
Spanish desovar, frezar
  • desovarto produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • frezarto produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • engendrarto bring forth in general
  • desovarto deposit (numerous) eggs in water
  • frezarto deposit (numerous) eggs in water
  • spawnearto appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • engendrarseto appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • aparecerto appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • frezathe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
  • desovethe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
Swedish yngel, rom
  • yngelthe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
  • romthe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
Tagalog mamayabat
  • mamayabatto produce or deposit (eggs) in water
Turkish yumurtlamak, yumurtlamak
  • yumurtlamakto produce or deposit (eggs) in water
  • yumurtlamakto generate, bring into being, especially non-mammalian beings in very large numbers
  • meydana getirmekto bring forth in general
  • oluşturmakto bring forth in general
  • ortaya çıkmakto bring forth in general
  • yumurtlamakto deposit (numerous) eggs in water
  • durmadan doğurmakto deposit (numerous) eggs in water
  • doğmakto appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • spawnlanmakto appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • spawn olmakto appear spontaneously in a game at a certain point and time
  • spawnlamakto cause to appear spontaneously in a game
  • spawn etmekto cause to appear spontaneously in a game
  • dölthe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
  • yumurtathe numerous eggs of an aquatic organism
  • nesilany germ or seed, even a figurative source; offspring
  • soyany germ or seed, even a figurative source; offspring
  • zürriyetany germ or seed, even a figurative source; offspring
  • dölany germ or seed, even a figurative source; offspring

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with spawn

ongoneseandrawndawnlawnwithdrawnVaughanShaunthereonpawnyawnStrachanSiobhansawnawnbrawnpwnstrawnKhersonwhereonrespawnfaunhereon
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

spawn. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spawn

MLA

“spawn.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spawn. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “spawn,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spawn.

Source: spawn on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.