different between spawner vs spanner

English

Etymology

spawn +? -er

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?sp??n?(?)/

Noun

spawner (plural spawners)

1. (fishing) A female fish, often specifically a salmon, which is physiologically ready to spawn
2. (computing) A program which spawns objects or processes as needed
3. (video games) An object in a simulated game world that spawns further objects.
   • 2006, Alice J. Robison, Inventing fun: videogame design as a writing process (page 77)

     […] at this point, there are enemy birds that fly out of the pipe and attack the player's avatar. The pipes themselves are "enemy spawners" […]

Translations

Anagrams

• Pawsner, enwraps, pawners, respawn

English

Etymology

span +? -er

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: sp?n'?(r), IPA^(key): /?spæn.?(?)/
• (US) enPR: sp?n'?r, IPA^(key): /?spæn.?/
• Rhymes: -æn?(r)

Noun

spanner (plural spanners)

1. (Australia, New Zealand, Britain, Ireland) A hand tool for adjusting nuts and bolts; a wrench.

   Pass me that spanner, Jake; there's just one more nut to screw in.

2. (rare) One who, or that which, spans.
3. (weaponry) A hand tool shaped like a small crank handle, for winding the spring of a wheel lock on a musket.
4. (obsolete) A device in early steam engines for moving the valves for the alternate admission and shutting off of the steam.
5. (Britain) A problem, dilemma or obstacle; something unexpected or troublesome (in the phrase spanner in the works)

   Halfway through the production of Macbeth, the director found that the stage was smaller than he expected. This really threw a spanner in the works.

6. (Britain, Ireland, mildly derogatory) A stupid or unintelligent person; one prone to making mistakes, especially in language.

   You spanner, Rodney! I wanted some time, not a bunch of thyme!

Synonyms

• (hand tool for nuts and bolts): wrench (US)

Related terms

• adjustable spanner
• ring spanner
• spanner barb
• throw a spanner in the works

Descendants

Translations

Anagrams

• Pensarn, panners