---
title: spawn — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spawn» in the school dictionary: When fish or frogs spawn, they lay lots of eggs in water. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spawn

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** fish, Spawn, spawn point, Frogs, We, Salmon · **What happens:** spawn, lay, be, mean, cause, appear · **To what, where:** lots, water, mass, eggs, something, many new things · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«spawn» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [spawn in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spawn.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When fish or frogs spawn, they lay lots of eggs in water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spawn:m1:1
# text = When fish or frogs spawn, they lay lots of eggs in water.
1	When	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	5	mark	_	_
2	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	frogs	frog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	spawn	spawn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	lay	lay	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spawn** | present | fish or frogs |  |  |  |  |  | vn calve-28.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **lay** | present | fish | lots of eggs |  | water |  |  | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent lot=Theme in water=Destination |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spawn is the mass of eggs laid by fish, frogs or toads, like frogspawn.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spawn:m2:1
# text = Spawn is the mass of eggs laid by fish, frogs or toads, like frogspawn.
1	Spawn	spawn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	mass	mass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	laid	lay	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	frogs	frog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	toads	toad	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	like	like	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	frogspawn	frogspawn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Spawn | the mass and frogspawn |  |  |  | of eggs | tree rules |
| 2 | **lay** | participle |  | eggs *not said here* |  |  |  | by fish and frogs or toads | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent by fish=Destination |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To spawn something means to cause many new things to appear, as in the film spawned three sequels.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spawn:m3:1
# text = To spawn something means to cause many new things to appear, as in the film spawned three sequels.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	spawn	spawn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	appear	appear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
17	spawned	spawn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
18	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	19	nummod	_	_
19	sequels	sequel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spawn** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **cause** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | many new things |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition thing=Patient |
| 4 | **appear** | to-infinitive |  | many new things *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **spawn** | past |  | three sequels |  | the film |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sequel=Patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: games — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In video games, to spawn means for a player or character to appear in the game world; the spawn point is where they appear.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spawn:m4:1
# text = In video games, to spawn means for a player or character to appear in the game world; the spawn point is where they appear.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	video	video	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	games	game	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	spawn	spawn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	7	nsubj	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	player	player	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	character	character	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	appear	appear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	acl	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	26	punct	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	spawn	spawn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	compound	_	_
22	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	nsubj:outer	_	_
23	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	26	cop	_	_
24	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	26	advmod	_	_
25	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	26	nsubj	_	_
26	appear	appear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spawn** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn calve-28.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | for a player or character; in video games | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in game=Attribute |
| 3 | **appear** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | the game world |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in world=Location |
| 4 | **is** | present | the spawn point |  |  |  |  | appear *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Frogs spawn in ponds in early spring.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spawn:x1:1
# text = Frogs spawn in ponds in early spring.
1	Frogs	frog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spawn	spawn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	ponds	pond	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	early	early	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	spring	spring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spawn** | present | Frogs |  |  | ponds | spring |  | vn calve-28.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw a clump of frogspawn in the school pond.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spawn:x2:1
# text = We saw a clump of frogspawn in the school pond.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	clump	clump	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	frogspawn	frogspawn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	pond	pond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | We | a clump of frogspawn |  | the school pond |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer clump=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Salmon swim up the river to spawn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spawn:x3:1
# text = Salmon swim up the river to spawn.
1	Salmon	salmon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	swim	swim	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	spawn	spawn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** | present | Salmon |  |  | the river |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme up river=Trajectory |
| 2 | **spawn** | to-infinitive | Salmon *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn calve-28.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The film spawned a whole series of toys.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spawn:x4:1
# text = The film spawned a whole series of toys.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spawned	spawn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	series	series	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	toys	toy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spawn** | past | the film | a whole series of toys |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent series=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the game you spawn next to a castle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spawn:x5:1
# text = In the game you spawn next to a castle.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	spawn	spawn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	next	next	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spawn** | present | you |  |  | the game |  | to a castle; next *property* | vn calve-28.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After you lose a life, you respawn at the last checkpoint.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spawn:x6:1
# text = After you lose a life, you respawn at the last checkpoint.
1	After	after	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lose	lose	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	respawn	respawn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	checkpoint	checkpoint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | present | you | a life |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent life=Eventuality |
| 2 | **respawn** | present | you |  |  | the last checkpoint |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Zombies spawn at night in that game.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spawn:x7:1
# text = Zombies spawn at night in that game.
1	Zombies	zombie	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spawn	spawn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
7	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spawn** | present | Zombies |  |  | that game | night |  | vn calve-28.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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