noun
frogspawn
FROG-spawn
Frogspawn (noun) means a jelly-like mass of frogs' eggs, laid in ponds and ditches. Example: “The pond was full of frogspawn by early spring.”
noun
1
A jelly-like mass of frogs' eggs, laid in ponds and ditches.
"The pond was full of frogspawn by early spring."
"Children scooped up some frogspawn to watch it hatch in a jar."
"Frogspawn clings to the pond weed until the tadpoles emerge."
How to use frogspawn
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIt's the jelly-like clump of eggs that frogs lay in water.
When to use it
Frogspawn is a plain, everyday nature word with no formal or technical tone.
Memory tip
Frogspawn is uncountable, so say 'some frogspawn' rather than 'a frogspawn'.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
clump of frogspawn
pond full of frogspawn
frogspawn hatching
scoop up frogspawn
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The pond was full of _____ by early spring.
Etymology
Frogspawn is a compound formed simply by joining frog and spawn, the word for eggs laid in water.
Frequently asked questions
What is frogspawn?
It's the jelly-like clump of eggs that frogs lay in ponds and ditches.
Why does frogspawn appear in ponds in spring?
Frogs lay their eggs in still water such as ponds and ditches, and the jelly around each egg helps protect it as it develops.
Is frogspawn safe to touch?
Frogspawn itself is just eggs in a jelly coating, so gently observing or scooping some into a jar of pond water is a common way to watch tadpoles hatch.
What is the meaning of frogspawn?
"frogspawn" (noun) means a jelly-like mass of frogs' eggs, laid in ponds and ditches.
