Definition

1. Noun:

   • A reproductive body produced by female birds, reptiles, fish, and some other animals, containing a developing embryo and a food supply, and typically having a hard or leathery shell. This is the most common biological definition.
   • The oval or round object laid by a hen or other bird, often used as food. This is the primary culinary definition.
   • (Informal, vulgar) A testicle. This is a slang usage, often in the plural form "eggs."

2. Verb:

   • To coat or mix with beaten egg. This is a cooking technique.
   • To throw eggs at someone or something as an act of protest or ridicule.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The bird built a nest to protect its eggs. (The reproductive body of a bird.)
  • I had two boiled eggs for breakfast. (The food item from a hen.)
  • (Slang) He was hit in the eggs during the game. (Referring to testicles.)

• Verb:

  • Before frying, you should egg the cutlets. (To coat with egg.)
  • Protesters egged the politician's car. (To throw eggs at.)

Advanced Usage

• "To egg someone on": To urge or encourage someone to do something, often something foolish or risky.

  • His friends egged him on to jump into the cold lake.

• "A bad egg": (Idiomatic) A person who is dishonest or corrupt.

  • Be careful doing business with him; he's a bad egg.

• "A good egg": (Idiomatic, informal) A kind, dependable, or likable person.

  • She's always willing to help; she's a real good egg.

• "To put all your eggs in one basket": (Idiomatic) To risk everything on a single venture or idea.

  • Investing all your money in one stock is like putting all your eggs in one basket.

• "To have egg on one's face": (Idiomatic) To be embarrassed or look foolish because of an obvious mistake.

  • After his prediction was completely wrong, he had egg on his face.

Variants and Related Words

• Egg-shaped (adj): Having an oval shape similar to that of an egg.

  • The sculpture was a smooth, egg-shaped form.

• Eggshell (n): The hard, brittle outer covering of an egg.

  • She painted the room an eggshell white.

• Eggbeater (n): A kitchen tool for beating eggs.

• Eggplant (n): A plant with a large, purple, egg-shaped fruit. (Note: This is a compound word listed here as a related term, not as a definition of "egg" itself.)

Synonyms

• Noun (food): Ovum (in biological contexts).
• Verb (coat): Glaze, brush with egg.
• Verb (throw eggs at): Pelt.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Egg on: (As covered in Advanced Usage) To encourage or incite.
  • He didn't want to argue, but his pride egged him on.

Related Idioms

• As sure as eggs is eggs: (Old-fashioned) Used to emphasize that something is definitely true or will certainly happen.

  • If you don't study, you'll fail the exam, as sure as eggs is eggs.

• Don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs: Used to tell someone not to give advice to a person who is more experienced.

  • Telling a chef how to chop onions is like teaching your grandmother to suck eggs.

• To kill the goose that lays the golden egg: To destroy a reliable source of profit or advantage through greed or shortsightedness.

  • Raising prices too high might kill the goose that lays the golden egg and drive away all our customers.

Noun

1. one of the two male reproductive glands that produce spermatozoa and secrete androgens
   • she kicked him in the balls and got away
2. oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food
3. animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum or embryo together with nutritive and protective envelopes; especially the thin-shelled reproductive body laid by e.g. female birds

Verb

1. coat with beaten egg
   • egg a schnitzel
2. throw eggs at