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spawn

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spawn

Main Entry:: ¹spawn
Pronunciation:: \ˈspȯn, ˈspän\
Function:: verb
Etymology:: Middle English, from Anglo-French espandre to spread out, shed, scatter, spawn, from Latin expandere to expand
Date:: 15th century

intransitive verb1: to deposit or fertilize spawn2: to produce young especially in large numberstransitive verb1 a: to produce or deposit (eggs) —used of an aquatic animal b: to induce (fish) to spawn c: to plant with mushroom spawn2: bring forth , generate <the idea spawned controversy>

— spawn·er noun

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