noun / verb
spawn
SPAWN/spɔːn/
The production of eggs or young by aquatic animals.
A frog spawns in shallow pond water, releasing clusters of eggs.
Etymology
The roots mean “spread out,” apparently referring to fish eggs released into water. From producing eggs, spawn broadened to producing things in large numbers and, more generally, giving rise to something.
In context
most widget toolkits coming from a c heritage uh will tell you to spawn a thread or create a callable that's then put into a timer method
More examples
- Salmon swim upstream to spawn in gravel beds.
- Frog spawn floats in jellylike clumps near the bank.
- These fish are spawning earlier than usual this year.
Forms
spawn · spawns · spawned · spawning
Similar words
- reproduce
- Means producing offspring generally, not specifically releasing eggs in water.
- roe
- Refers specifically to fish eggs, not the act of reproduction.