: 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
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
The shocking spike in egg prices may mark the final blow to an age-old tradition: egging someone's house.—Nathan Bomey, Axios, 20 Mar. 2025 The first act speeds through one evening right toward one big family dinner, with Jacobs-Jenkins egging expectations along the way.—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 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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