egg
EHG
Egg (noun) means an oval or round body laid by birds, reptiles, and many other animals, usually containing a developing embryo. Example: “The bird's nest held four small speckled eggs.”
noun
1
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 turtle buried her eggs in the warm sand before slipping back into the sea."
"Frogs lay hundreds of eggs in the pond each spring."
2
The edible egg of a domestic bird, especially a chicken, used as food.
"She scrambled two eggs for breakfast."
"Would you like your egg boiled or fried this morning?"
"We need to buy a dozen eggs if we are going to bake a cake."
3
The female reproductive cell of an animal, from which offspring develop when fertilized.
"Fertilization occurs when a sperm cell meets an egg."
"Each month, a woman's body usually releases one egg from an ovary."
"Scientists studied how the egg and sperm join to start a new life."
verb
1
To urge or encourage someone, usually into doing something reckless (used with "on").
"His friends egged him on until he agreed to the dare."
"The crowd egged the singer on until she agreed to perform one more song."
"Stop egging your cousin on, or he will really jump off that wall."
How to use egg
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- eggs
- Third person singular
- eggs
- Past tense
- egged
- Archaic forms
- eggest, eggedst, eggeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
Related words
Rhymes for egg
See all rhymes for egg →Frequently asked questions
What does “egg” mean?
The word “egg” means an oval or round body laid by birds, reptiles, and many other animals, usually containing a developing embryo. In plain terms, the 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.
How do you pronounce “egg”?
“Egg” is pronounced EHG (/ˈɛɡ/ in IPA).
How do you use “egg” in a sentence?
Here is “egg” used in a sentence: “The bird's nest held four small speckled eggs.”
What part of speech is “egg”?
Depending on how it is used, “egg” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “egg” come from?
The word “egg” comes from Latin. 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.
Is “egg” a common word?
“Egg” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “egg” have?
“Egg” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an oval or round body laid by birds, reptiles, and many other animals, usually containing a developing embryo.
What are the parts of an egg?
A typical bird's egg has four main parts: the hard outer shell that protects it, a thin membrane just inside, the clear-to-white albumen, known as the egg white, which cushions and nourishes, and the yolk at the centre, which feeds the developing embryo. Together they support new life until hatching.
Which animals lay eggs?
Many animals do. Birds and most reptiles lay eggs, as do fish, amphibians such as frogs, and countless insects. Even a few mammals, the platypus and echidnas, known as monotremes, lay eggs rather than giving birth to live young. Egg-laying is one of nature's most widespread ways of reproducing.
What is the difference between an egg and an ovum?
An ovum is the female reproductive cell itself, a single microscopic egg cell. An egg, in the everyday sense, is the larger structure an animal lays, complete with yolk, white, and shell, containing that cell once it is fertilised. So the ovum is the seed of life inside the egg.
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