Meaning of "to thrive and to spawn"

[trk]

I just would like to know what the verbs "to thrive and to spawn" means and in what context should I use it? I read spawn in this context but I really dont know how to translate it: " Prehistoric insects spawn new drugs" Thank you all beforehand!!!

[Joe!]

I am not quite sure.....but I would say spawn in that case means generated. so, they probably meant they generated new drugs thanks to the prehistoric insects. I wish to have been helpful!!

[Mister Micawber]

.
That's right, Joe-- and thrive means to grow strong and healthy (it also means to make money).

My zinnias are thriving in their new pot.
Dinosaurs thrived (or throve) in the vast tropics of the Jurassic Period.
Microsoft is thriving, in spite of its competition.
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber