Egg
noun
The oval or round object laid by a female bird, reptile or fish, often containing a young animal.
The bird feeds the worms to its eggs in the nest.
Often appears as...
- lay an egg
- egg yolks
noun
In mammals, an egg is one of the tiny cells from a female's ovaries which can develop into a baby.
The egg is fertilized by the sperm to form the embryo.
Often appears as...
- fertilize an egg
- egg cells
Usage tips
Academic
verb
To encourage or incite someone to do something.
They were egging him on to tell the story.
Often appears as...
- egging someone on
- egging on a fight
Usage tips
Colloquial
noun
An oval object with a hard shell, produced by female birds, especially chickens, eaten as food.
I like my eggs fried or scrambled.
Often appears as...
- scrambled eggs
- boiled eggs
noun
A person, especially someone eccentric or stupid.
Don't mind him, he's a bit of an egg.
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
noun
The oval or round object laid by a female bird, reptile or fish, often containing a young animal.
The bird feeds the worms to its eggs in the nest.
Often appears as...
- lay an egg
- egg yolks
noun
In mammals, an egg is one of the tiny cells from a female's ovaries which can develop into a baby.
The egg is fertilized by the sperm to form the embryo.
Often appears as...
- fertilize an egg
- egg cells
Usage tips
Academic
verb
To encourage or incite someone to do something.
They were egging him on to tell the story.
Often appears as...
- egging someone on
- egging on a fight
Usage tips
Colloquial
noun
An oval object with a hard shell, produced by female birds, especially chickens, eaten as food.
I like my eggs fried or scrambled.
Often appears as...
- scrambled eggs
- boiled eggs
noun
A person, especially someone eccentric or stupid.
Don't mind him, he's a bit of an egg.
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/3Animal Origin
Understand 'egg' refers to offspring housed within a protective layer, not just a food item.
The turtle laid eggs in the sand.
Pro Tip 2/3Species Variation
Eggs can vary in size and color depending on the species, some may be speckled or plain.
We found tiny, speckled bird eggs in the tree.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical Use
'Egg' can be used metaphorically to denote something new or a start of a process.
Their new business idea was still in the egg.
Pro Tip 1/3Animal Origin
Understand 'egg' refers to offspring housed within a protective layer, not just a food item.
The turtle laid eggs in the sand.
Pro Tip 2/3Species Variation
Eggs can vary in size and color depending on the species, some may be speckled or plain.
We found tiny, speckled bird eggs in the tree.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical Use
'Egg' can be used metaphorically to denote something new or a start of a process.
Their new business idea was still in the egg.
Pro Tip 1/3Animal Origin
Understand 'egg' refers to offspring housed within a protective layer, not just a food item.
The turtle laid eggs in the sand.
Pro Tip 2/3Species Variation
Eggs can vary in size and color depending on the species, some may be speckled or plain.
We found tiny, speckled bird eggs in the tree.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical Use
'Egg' can be used metaphorically to denote something new or a start of a process.
Their new business idea was still in the egg.
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Video examples
Meet the Intimidating...
them will guard the eggs from danger they take turns while one stays behind and guards the eggs the other goes out to hunt for delicious delicious crabs it is believed that the wolf eels will mate for life now isn't that that's just nice you know it's nice to hear that and they will
Video examples
The three different ways...
Despite laying eggs and other adaptations that we associate more with non-mammals, like the duck-bill platypus's webbed feet, bill, and the venomous spur males have on their feet, they are, in fact, mammals. That's because they share the defining characteristics of mammalia
Video examples
Why do women have...
Each time ovulation doesn't result in a healthy pregnancy, the womb gets rid of its endometrial lining, along with any unfertilized eggs, sick, dying, or dead embryos. That protective process is known as menstruation, leading to the period.
Video examples
How to unboil an egg -...
so scientists attach a plastic bead to one end that adds extra stress and encourages it to fold up first. This unboiling method won't work with a whole egg in its shell since the solution has to spread throughout a cylindrical chamber.
Video examples
Mary Roach: 10 things...
There's another way that orgasm might boost fertility. This one involves men. Sperm that sit around in the body for a week or more start to develop abnormalities that make them less effective at head-banging their way into the egg.
Video examples
How in vitro fertilizatio...
preparing to create a new egg and uterine lining the following month. The egg is the largest cell in the body and is protected by a thick, extracellular shell of sugar and protein called the zona pellucida.
Video examples
Penguins Huddle To Keep...
are laid one per bear the mothers won't root it though the father will and one of the most precarious parts of the whole process is the handover too many seconds on the ice and the egg will freeze
Video examples
How does our gut talk to...
the surgery she said she couldn't even stand the sight or smell of sunny-side up eggs but after the surgery not only she could eat those eggs she actually had a craving for runny yolk eggs how is
Video examples
Ferocious Dinosaur...
it now seems clear that the instinct to nurture and care for a nest of eggs had its origins with the dinosaurs it's a behavior that was so successful it's still widespread today with birds
Video examples
Nature's First Line of...
least once during the season so it's important that the eggs should be waterproof and indeed a swan's egg has an outer layer that waterproofs it without suffocating the chick
Video examples
Meet the Intimidating...
them will guard the eggs from danger they take turns while one stays behind and guards the eggs the other goes out to hunt for delicious delicious crabs it is believed that the wolf eels will mate for life now isn't that that's just nice you know it's nice to hear that and they will
Video examples
The three different ways...
Despite laying eggs and other adaptations that we associate more with non-mammals, like the duck-bill platypus's webbed feet, bill, and the venomous spur males have on their feet, they are, in fact, mammals. That's because they share the defining characteristics of mammalia
Video examples
Why do women have...
Each time ovulation doesn't result in a healthy pregnancy, the womb gets rid of its endometrial lining, along with any unfertilized eggs, sick, dying, or dead embryos. That protective process is known as menstruation, leading to the period.
Video examples
How to unboil an egg -...
so scientists attach a plastic bead to one end that adds extra stress and encourages it to fold up first. This unboiling method won't work with a whole egg in its shell since the solution has to spread throughout a cylindrical chamber.
Video examples
Mary Roach: 10 things...
There's another way that orgasm might boost fertility. This one involves men. Sperm that sit around in the body for a week or more start to develop abnormalities that make them less effective at head-banging their way into the egg.
Video examples
How in vitro fertilizatio...
preparing to create a new egg and uterine lining the following month. The egg is the largest cell in the body and is protected by a thick, extracellular shell of sugar and protein called the zona pellucida.
Video examples
Penguins Huddle To Keep...
are laid one per bear the mothers won't root it though the father will and one of the most precarious parts of the whole process is the handover too many seconds on the ice and the egg will freeze
Video examples
How does our gut talk to...
the surgery she said she couldn't even stand the sight or smell of sunny-side up eggs but after the surgery not only she could eat those eggs she actually had a craving for runny yolk eggs how is
Video examples
Ferocious Dinosaur...
it now seems clear that the instinct to nurture and care for a nest of eggs had its origins with the dinosaurs it's a behavior that was so successful it's still widespread today with birds
Video examples
Nature's First Line of...
least once during the season so it's important that the eggs should be waterproof and indeed a swan's egg has an outer layer that waterproofs it without suffocating the chick
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Mary Wesley
British Novelist
I remember the evacuee children from towns and cities throwing stones at the farm animals. When we explained that if you did that you wouldn't have any milk, meat or eggs, they soon learned to respect the animals.
Quote examples
Jason Day
Australian Athlete
It really is amazing that some days you'll come out and you'll feel like you can beat anyone, and then some days you come out and you've got no confidence in the world, and you can't break an egg with a hammer.
Quote examples
Hermann Hesse
German Novelist
The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever will be born must destroy a world.
Quote examples
Nicole Scherzinger
American Musician
I see lots of women having beautiful children later in life. And, if not, just freeze your eggs!
Quote examples
Manfred von Richthofen
German Aviator
My dear Excellency! I have not gone to war to collect cheese and eggs, but for another purpose.
Quote examples
Brian Shaw
American Coach
First thing in the morning, it's very important to eat quickly. So I'm reaching for eggs.
Quote examples
M. F. K. Fisher
American Writer
Probably one of the most private things in the world is an egg until it is broken.
Quote examples
Zora Neale Hurston
American Dramatist
The present was an egg laid by the past that had the future inside its shell.
Quote examples
Jose Andres
Spanish Chef
My whole life, I have been trying to cook an egg in the right way.
Quote examples
Queen Elizabeth II
English Royalty
I myself prefer my New Zealand eggs for breakfast.
Quote examples
Mary Wesley
British Novelist
I remember the evacuee children from towns and cities throwing stones at the farm animals. When we explained that if you did that you wouldn't have any milk, meat or eggs, they soon learned to respect the animals.
Quote examples
Jason Day
Australian Athlete
It really is amazing that some days you'll come out and you'll feel like you can beat anyone, and then some days you come out and you've got no confidence in the world, and you can't break an egg with a hammer.
Quote examples
Hermann Hesse
German Novelist
The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever will be born must destroy a world.
Quote examples
Nicole Scherzinger
American Musician
I see lots of women having beautiful children later in life. And, if not, just freeze your eggs!
Quote examples
Manfred von Richthofen
German Aviator
My dear Excellency! I have not gone to war to collect cheese and eggs, but for another purpose.
Quote examples
Brian Shaw
American Coach
First thing in the morning, it's very important to eat quickly. So I'm reaching for eggs.
Quote examples
M. F. K. Fisher
American Writer
Probably one of the most private things in the world is an egg until it is broken.
Quote examples
Zora Neale Hurston
American Dramatist
The present was an egg laid by the past that had the future inside its shell.
Quote examples
Jose Andres
Spanish Chef
My whole life, I have been trying to cook an egg in the right way.
Quote examples
Queen Elizabeth II
English Royalty
I myself prefer my New Zealand eggs for breakfast.
Example 1 of 10
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