The Open Dictionary

egg

noun

UK/eɡ/
US/eɡ/

Definitions of egg noun

food

  1. A1CountableUncountable

    A oval-shaped object with a hard outer shell produced by female birds, especially chickens, and used as food.

    • A sunny-side up egg with toast.

    • She enjoys eating boiled eggs for breakfast.

    • This recipe calls for two eggs.

shape

  1. Countable

    An object that is formed or shaped like a bird's egg.

    • They decorated the Christmas tree with colorful egg-shaped ornaments.

    • The sculpture is an egg-shaped object made of marble.

    • This lightbulb is shaped like an egg.

reproduction

  1. B2Countable

    A oval object, often with a hard shell, produced by female birds, reptiles, and insects, containing a developing baby animal.

    • Sea turtles lay their eggs on the beach.

    • Insects lay eggs under leaves.

    • The snake hid its eggs in a secluded spot.

  2. Countable

    A cell produced by a female animal that is capable of developing into a baby if it is fertilized by a male sex cell.

    • The research focuses on the development of the egg cell.

    • A woman releases an egg during ovulation.

    • The fertilized egg is the starting point of a new life.

Idioms

  • put all your eggs in one basket

    To concentrate all one's resources or hopes in one single area, which involves a high level of risk.

    • When investing, don't put all your eggs in one basket; diversifying risk is the wise thing to do.

  • have egg on your face

    To look foolish or embarrassed because of something you have done.

    • He incorrectly predicted the outcome of the game and now has egg on his face.

Phrasal Verbs of egg

  • egg someone on

    to urge someone persistently to undertake an action that may be unwise

    • She kept egging him on to join that risky adventure, even though he didn't want to.