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<HTML> <HEAD><TITLE>DICTIONARY: spawl - spean</TITLE></HEAD> <BODY BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> <A HREF="a.dic">A</A> <A HREF="b.dic">B</A> <A HREF="c.dic">C</A> <A HREF="d.dic">D</A> <A HREF="e.dic">E</A> <A HREF="f.dic">F</A> <A HREF="g.dic">G</A> <A HREF="h.dic">H</A> <A HREF="i.dic">I</A> <A HREF="j.dic">J</A> <A HREF="k.dic">K</A> <A HREF="l.dic">L</A> <A HREF="m.dic">M</A> <A HREF="n.dic">N</A> <A HREF="o.dic">O</A> <A HREF="p.dic">P</A> <A HREF="q.dic">Q</A> <A HREF="r.dic">R</A> <A HREF="s.dic">S</A> <A HREF="t.dic">T</A> <A HREF="u.dic">U</A> <A HREF="v.dic">V</A> <A HREF="w.dic">W</A> <A HREF="x.dic">X</A> <A HREF="y.dic">Y</A> <A HREF="z.dic">Z</A> <A NAME="spawl"> spawl (1), intransitive verb.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Archaic.) to spit; expectorate. </DL> <A NAME="spawl"> spawl (2), noun, verb. =spall.</DL> <A NAME="spawn"> spawn, noun, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD>noun 1a. the eggs of fish, frogs, shellfish, and other animals growing or living in water. Ex. The boys dug up some little pockets of spawn at the water's edge. (SYN) roe. <DD> b. the young that are newly hatched from such eggs. Ex. The water was full of wriggling spawn. <DD> 2. offspring, especially a large number of offspring; swarming brood. (SYN) progeny. <DD> 3. (Figurative.) a person regarded as the offspring of some stock, or as imbued with some quality or principle. Ex. Tyrants are but the spawn of Ignorance, Begotten by the slaves they trample on (James Russell Lowell). <DD> 4. (Figurative.) a product, result, or effect. <DD> 5. the mass of white, threadlike fibers (mycelium) from which mushrooms grow. <DD>v.i. 1. (of fish, frogs, shellfish, and other animals growing or living in water) to produce eggs. <DD> 2. to increase or develop like spawn; become reproductive. <DD>v.t. 1. to produce (spawn). <DD> 2. to bring forth; give birth to. Ex. (Figurative.) [He] himself had spawned a political hassle with a proposed new election law (Newsweek). (SYN) produce. <DD> 3. to supply with spawn (mycelium). noun spawner. </DL> <A NAME="spawningbed"> spawning bed,<DL COMPACT><DD> a bed or nest made by salmon, trout, and other fish, in the bottom of a stream to deposit their spawn and milt. </DL> <A NAME="spawningground"> spawning ground,<DL COMPACT><DD> 1. the place where fish spawn or to which they return to spawn. <DD> 2. (Figurative.) a place in which something commonly originates; breeding place. Ex. Boxing's spawning grounds, the neighborhood clubs, are ... unable to compete with the fights on TV (Newsweek). </DL> <A NAME="spawningscreen"> spawning screen,<DL COMPACT><DD> a frame or screen on which the spawn of fish is collected. </DL> <A NAME="spay"> spay (1), transitive verb.<DL COMPACT><DD> to remove the ovaries of (a female animal). </DL> <A NAME="spay"> spay (2), noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Archaic.) a male red deer in its third year. </DL> <A NAME="spc"> SPC (no periods),<DL COMPACT><DD> South Pacific Commission. </DL> <A NAME="spca"> S.P.C.A. or SPCA (no periods),<DL COMPACT><DD> Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. </DL> <A NAME="spcc"> S.P.C.C.,<DL COMPACT><DD> Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. </DL> <A NAME="speak"> speak, verb, spoke or (Archaic) spake, spoken or (Archaic) spoke, speaking.<DL COMPACT><DD>v.i. 1. to say words; talk; converse. Ex. to speak with a stranger, to speak about something. A person with a cold often has trouble speaking distinctly. We speak a hundred times for every once we write (George Herbert Palmer). <DD> 2a. to make a speech. Ex. Who is going to speak at the meeting? Some lecturers speak without notes. <DD> b. to deliver, as an argument or plea. Ex. to speak against a bill before Congress. Speak softly and carry a big stick (Theodore Roosevelt). <DD> 3. (Figurative.) to express an idea, feeling, or the like; communicate. Ex. Actions speak louder than words. For the heart must speak when the lips are dumb (Kate P. Osgood). <DD> 4. to tell; express. Ex. (Figurative.) Her eyes speak of suffering. <DD> 5. to communicate in written or printed words. Ex. The daily press speaks to millions of people. <DD> 6. to make sounds. Ex. The violins spoke at the nod of the conductor. The cannons spoke. <DD> 7. (of dogs) to bark when told. Ex. Speak for the candy, Fido. <DD>v.t. 1. to say or utter (a word or words). Ex. No one spoke a word to him. <DD> 2. to tell or express in words or speech. Ex. to speak nonsense. Speak the truth. On an occasion of this kind it becomes more than a moral duty to speak one's mind. <DD> 3. to use (a language). Ex. Do you speak French? <DD> 4. (Figurative.) <DD> a. to indicate by expression. Ex. His face spoke hope. (SYN) manifest. <DD> b. to reveal; indicate; make known. Ex. The loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind (Oliver Goldsmith). (SYN) betoken, denote. <DD> 5. to speak to or with; converse with; address. Ex. Lancelot ever spake him pleasantly (Tennyson). The great master ... can't be spoke by you (Daniel Defoe). <DD> 6. to communicate with (a passing vessel) at sea; hail. <DD> 7. (Archaic.) to show to be; characterize. Ex. His conduct speaks him honorable. expr. so to speak, to speak in such a manner; to use that expression. Ex. He has a chance to win the election; he is, so to speak, still in the running. Pearl ... was the leading spirit of the pair, and led Maud by the nose, so to speak (J. S. Winter). expr. speak for, <DD> a. to speak in the interest of; represent. Ex. He spoke for the group that wanted a picnic. Why don't you speak for yourself, John? (Longfellow). They are slaves who fear to speak For the fallen and the weak (James Russell Lowell). <DD> b. to ask or apply for. Ex. We ought to speak for reserved seats ahead of time. expr. speak of, to mention; refer to. Ex. He spoke of this matter to me. I shall have occasion to speak again of these books at the next session. Speaking of school, how do you like the new gym? expr. speak out (or up), to speak loudly, clearly, or freely. Ex. Bullies count on the fact that no one dares speak out against them. expr. speak up (or out) for, tospeak strongly on behalf or in defense of. Ex. It's all very well for you to speak up for him ... You'll get a fortune by him (Dickens). Two thirds said in next November's election they would vote for candidates who spoke out for peace (Maclean's). expr. speak well for, to give a favorable idea of; be evidence in favor of. Ex. Her behavior speaks well for her. expr. to speak of, worth mentioning. Ex. I have no complaints to speak of. </DL> <A NAME="speak"> -speak,<DL COMPACT><DD> (combining form. Informal.) the typical language or vocabulary of. Ex. Artspeak = the typical language or vocabulary of art. "Venue" ... in Olymp-speak is a place where an athletic contest is held (Time). </DL> <A NAME="speakable"> speakable, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> that can be spoken. </DL> <A NAME="speakeasy"> speakeasy or speak-easy, noun, pl. -easies.<DL COMPACT><DD> (U.S. Slang.) a place where alcoholic liquors are sold contrary to law, especially one that sold such liquor by the drink during the period of national prohibition. </DL> <A NAME="speaker"> speaker, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> 1. a person who speaks, especially one who speaks formally or skillfully before an audience; orator. <DD> 2. Usually, Speaker. a person who presides over a legislative assembly, especially the United States House of Representatives or a house of the British parliament. Ex. The Lord Chancellor need not be a member of the House of Lords of which he is the Speaker (Law Times). <DD> 3. any one of various devices for reproducing sound, as in a radio, phonograph, or television set; loudspeaker. <DD> 4. a book containing pieces for recitation or reading aloud. </DL> <A NAME="speakerofthehouse"> Speaker of the House,<DL COMPACT><DD> the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives. </DL> <A NAME="speakerphone"> speakerphone, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a telephone incorporating a loudspeaker and a microphone. Ex. Speakerphones ... permit an executive to conduct a phone conversation while standing several feet away from his desk (Time). </DL> <A NAME="speakership"> speakership, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the office or position of speaker in a legislative assembly. </DL> <A NAME="speaking"> speaking, noun, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD>noun 1a. the act of a person who speaks; talking. Ex. Within an hour from the time of my speaking (Scott). <DD> b. speech; talk; discourse. Ex. So sweet his speaking sounded (William Morris). <DD> 2. the making of speeches. Ex. public speaking, after-dinner speaking. <DD>adj. 1. used in, suited to, or involving speech. Ex. a person's speaking voice, to be within speaking distance, a speaking part in a play. <DD> 2. that speaks; giving information as if by speech. Ex. a speaking example of a thing. <DD> 3. permitting conversation. Ex. I have only a speaking acquaintance with our new neighbors. <DD> 4. (Figurative.) highly expressive. Ex. speaking eyes. (SYN) eloquent. <DD> 5. (Figurative.) lifelike. Ex. a speaking likeness. </DL> <A NAME="speakingtube"> speaking tube,<DL COMPACT><DD> a tube or pipe for speaking from one room, building, or other such area, to another. Ex. Many ships used to have speaking tubes from the bridge to the engine room. </DL> <A NAME="spean"> spean, transitive verb.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Scottish.) to wean. </DL> <A HREF="spear.dic">NEXT</A>