offspring
UK/'ɒ:fspriŋ/US
IELTSTOEFLGREC1
Definitions
n.
A person's child or children; the young of an animal
子女；（动物的）幼崽，后代
n.
A product or result of something
产物，结果
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedoff (out from) + spring (burst forth) = those who spring out from their parents. Children are pictured as new shoots bursting up from the parent — the same image as a plant springing from a seed.
Root spring still carries 6 more wordsUsage Guide
offspring is unusual: the same form is both singular and plural — 'one offspring,' 'several offspring' (never 'offsprings'). It is fairly formal or technical; in everyday talk people say children or kids.
Example Sentences
- 1.
They worry about leaving debt to their offspring.
- 2.
The female bird feeds her offspring all day.
- 3.
The festival is the offspring of an old harvest tradition.