Illustration of egg
- 1 shell
- 2 outer shell membrane
- 3 inner shell membrane
- 4 air space
- 5 chalaza
- 6 albumen or white layers
- 7 yolk layers
- 8 blastodisc
- 9 vitelline membrane
often attributive
1
a
: 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
c
: ovum
2
: something resembling an egg
eggless
adjective
Examples of egg in a Sentence
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Brittney Melton, NPR, 28 Mar. 2025
Grand Patio Rocking Outdoor Papasan Chair Imagine curling up with a good book in this comfy outdoor rocking chair with a body-hugging egg shape design and plush padded cushion.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Esther Zuckerman, The Atlantic, 6 Apr. 2025
The Ohio senator also makes a show of news conferences at his rallies, answering reporter questions in front of supporters who egg him on.
—Sam Woodward, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for egg
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Noun
The egg seizures are outpacing border officials' interception of fentanyl.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 28 Mar. 2025
Grand Patio Rocking Outdoor Papasan Chair Imagine curling up with a good book in this comfy outdoor rocking chair with a body-hugging egg shape design and plush padded cushion.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
Johnson said, egging them on, as though the reference to Wallen was an inside joke shared by everyone there.
—Esther Zuckerman, The Atlantic, 6 Apr. 2025
The Ohio senator also makes a show of news conferences at his rallies, answering reporter questions in front of supporters who egg him on.
—Sam Woodward, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for egg
Cite this Entry
“Egg.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/egg. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
egg
2 of 2 noun1
a
: 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 also ovum
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)
Medical Definition
egg
noun1
: 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
3
: ovum
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