noun

egg

EHG

noun

An oval or round body laid by birds, reptiles, and many other animals, usually containing a developing embryo.

"The bird's nest held four small speckled eggs."

The edible egg of a domestic bird, especially a chicken, used as food.

"She scrambled two eggs for breakfast."

The female reproductive cell of an animal, from which offspring develop when fertilized.

"Fertilization occurs when a sperm cell meets an egg."

verb

To urge or encourage someone, usually into doing something reckless (used with "on").

"His friends egged him on until he agreed to the dare."

How to Use Egg

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe oval object laid by birds and other animals, most familiar as a breakfast food; as a verb, "egg on" means to push someone into doing something.

Common mistake

The verb "to egg" (throw eggs at, or coat with egg) is different from the phrasal verb "egg on" (encourage) — context usually makes the meaning clear.

Common pairings

egg someone on scrambled eggs lay an egg walking on eggshells

Word Forms

egged past tense, egged past tense, eggs plural, egg plural, egged plural, eggs singular, eggs singular, egg singular, egged singular, eggest singular, eggedst singular, eggeth singular

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Fill the Gap

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The bird's nest held four small speckled _____.

Etymology

From Old Norse egg, going back to a very old Germanic word for "egg" that's also the source of similar words in Dutch, German, and the Scandinavian languages, and distantly related to Latin ovum.

Rhymes for egg

Gregg Clegg

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