: the hard-shelled reproductive body produced by a bird and especially by the common domestic chicken
also: its contents used as food
b
: an animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum together with its nutritive and protective envelopes and having the capacity to develop into a new individual capable of independent existence
Noun
The egg will hatch about 10 days after it is laid.
the smell of rotten eggs
I bought a carton of eggs.
a batter made from flour and egg
The egg is fertilized by the sperm. Verb (1)
though exhausted, I was egged on by spectators to finish the marathon
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Noun
Once established, the tiny flies continue to mate, lay eggs, and hatch indoors.—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2025 The creamy, silky sauce made with eggs and Parmigiano-Reggiano blankets noodles, peas and prosciutto.—Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2025
Verb
Geyser stabbed Leutner 19 times while Weier egged her on.—Todd Richmond, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025 Geyser repeatedly stabbed Leutner as Weier egged her on, prosecutors have said.—Doha Madani, NBC News, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for egg
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English egge, from Old Norse egg; akin to Old English ǣg egg, Latin ovum, Greek ōion
Verb (1)
Middle English, from Old Norse eggja; akin to Old English ecg edge — more at edge
: a hard-shelled reproductive body produced by a bird and especially by domestic poultry
also: its contents used as food
b
: a reproductive body produced by an animal and consisting of an ovum with its food-containing and protecting envelopes and being capable of development into a new individual
c
: a germ cell produced by a female
called alsoovum
2
: something shaped like an egg
darning egg
Etymology
Verb
Old Norse eggja "to incite"
Noun
Middle English egge "egg," from early Norse egg (same meaning)
: the hard-shelled reproductive body produced by a bird and especially by the common domestic chicken (Gallus gallus)
2
: an animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum together with its nutritive and protective envelopes and having the capacity to develop into a new individual capable of independent existence
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