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egg1 definition

egg (eg)

noun

  1. the oval or round body laid by a female bird, fish, reptile, insect, etc., containing a supply of nutrients, a protective membrane, and, when fertilized, the embryo of a new individual: many kinds of eggs have a thin, brittle shell as an outer covering
  2. a reproductive cell produced by a female animal or plant; ovum
    also called egg cell
  3. the egg of a domestic fowl; specif., the liquid contents of a hen's egg, as used in cooking
  4. a thing resembling a hen's egg
  5. Slang a person he's a good egg

Etymology: ME < ON, replacing native ey < OE æg, akin to Ger ei (pl. eier), prob. < IE base *owjom-, *ojom-, of a bird (> L ovum, Gr ōion) < *awei-, bird (> L avis)

transitive verb

  1. to mix or cover with the yolk or white of eggs, as in cooking
  2. Informal to throw eggs at
egg Idioms

egg on one's face

Informal embarrassment due to an obvious blunder

lay an egg

Informal to fail completely: said of a joke, theatrical performance, entertainer, etc.

put all one's eggs in one basket

or have all one's eggs in one basket
to risk all that one has on a single venture, method, etc.
egg2 definition

egg (eg)

transitive verb

to urge or incite: with on

Etymology: ME eggen < ON eggja, lit., to give edge to < egg, edge

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