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
Synonyms
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
Hannah Malach, WWD, 27 Jan. 2025
That’s how much egg prices are estimated to increase in 2025, compared to about 2.2% for food prices in general, according to the Department of Agriculture.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 27 Jan. 2025
David K. Li, NBC News, 10 Jan. 2025
When the university received multiple reports of vandalism targeted at a Jewish student − including that his home was egged, his door defaced and feces smeared around his home − the university did not assess the situation.
—Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for egg 
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Noun
Taylor Swift loves an easter egg, especially in the form of a wardrobe staple.
—Hannah Malach, WWD, 27 Jan. 2025
That’s how much egg prices are estimated to increase in 2025, compared to about 2.2% for food prices in general, according to the Department of Agriculture.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 27 Jan. 2025
Verb
Geyser repeatedly stabbed Leutner as Weier egged her on, prosecutors have said.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 10 Jan. 2025
When the university received multiple reports of vandalism targeted at a Jewish student − including that his home was egged, his door defaced and feces smeared around his home − the university did not assess the situation.
—Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for egg
Dictionary Entries Near egg
Cite this Entry
“Egg.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/egg. Accessed 6 Feb. 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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