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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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