transitive verb, intransitive verb

1. to produce or deposit (eggs, sperm, or young)
2. to bring forth or be the source of (esp. something regarded with contempt and produced in great numbers)
3. Hort. to plant with spawn, or mycelium

Etymology: ME spaunnen (for *spaunden) < Anglo-Fr espaundre < OFr espandre, to shed < L expandere: see expand

noun

1. the mass of eggs or young produced by fish, mollusks, crustaceans, amphibians, etc.
2. something produced, esp. in great quantity; specif., numerous offspring or progeny: usually contemptuous
3. the mycelium of fungi, esp. of mushrooms grown to be eaten