spawn

Definition

To produce or deposit (eggs) in water.

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)”).

Example Sentences

• "A frog spawns thousands of tadpoles every year."
• "The web server spawns a new process to handle each client's request."
• "Alewives are anadromous fish: Born in freshwater, they spend their lives in the ocean, returning annually to their birthplaces to spawn."