offspring

Everyday

1. Offspring are the young of an animal or plant: its babies or seeds. tree →
2. (formal or jokey) A person's offspring are their children. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons it is used about life cycles, reproduction and inheritance: parents pass features to their offspring. In everyday speech parents sometimes say «my offspring» as a joke for «my kids». Phrases: «produce offspring», «parents and offspring».

Examples

• A cat may have four offspring in one litter. tree →
• Frogs lay many eggs, and only some offspring survive. tree →
• Offspring often look like their parents. tree →
• Plants make seeds that grow into offspring. tree →
• The lion protects her offspring. tree →
• (jokey) Dad said, «Feed your offspring, they're hungry!» tree →
• Rabbits produce a lot of offspring each year. tree →
• How many offspring did the pair of birds raise? tree →
• We frequently find mention of Tritons who are either the offspring or kindred of Triton. tree →

Note

Plural is the same: one offspring, five offspring (not «offsprings»). Takes a singular or plural verb depending on meaning. In maths problems «each pair has 6 offspring» means 6 young per pair: multiply by the number of pairs.

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: In Sefer Yetzirah, the offspring are the many things that come from the first few letters, as children come from parents. In the primary lessons: In science lessons it is used about life cycles, reproduction and inheritance: parents pass features to their offspring. In everyday speech parents sometimes say «my offspring» as a joke for «my kids». Phrases: «produce offspring», «parents and offspring».

Examples

• Many offspring or derivations came from the latter three, as their progenitors, as it is explained afterwards in the chapter. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →
• The Covenant of Circumcision was to be an outward and visible sign of the Divine promise made to Abraham and his offspring. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. (Writings JOB.21.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword; and his offspring shall not have bread enough. (Writings JOB.27.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth. (Writings JOB.5.25, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Plural is the same: one offspring, five offspring (not «offsprings»). Takes a singular or plural verb depending on meaning. In maths problems «each pair has 6 offspring» means 6 young per pair: multiply by the number of pairs.