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
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
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 Aug. 2025
Their most popular savory waffle dish comes with chicken topped with bourbon maple syrup, pepper bacon, two eggs and a side of hash.
—Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 19 Aug. 2025
Josh Max, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Enthusiasm tends to spring from social media chatter, which gets amplified by memes and posters egging one another on to buy more.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for egg
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Noun
Use the crevice tool to vacuum in cracks and corners, especially where the shelf meets the wall, under shelving, and where the wall meets the ceiling, which are favorite places for moths to lay eggs.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 Aug. 2025
Their most popular savory waffle dish comes with chicken topped with bourbon maple syrup, pepper bacon, two eggs and a side of hash.
—Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
Flip it back into Normal around town, and the GR is surprisingly tame, happy to hum through errands without egging you on.
—Josh Max, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Enthusiasm tends to spring from social media chatter, which gets amplified by memes and posters egging one another on to buy more.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for egg
Cite this Entry
“Egg.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/egg. Accessed 28 Aug. 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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