Egg: meaning, definitions and examples

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egg

[ ɛɡ ]

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food

An egg is a round or oval object that is produced by a female bird and contains a baby bird or animal. Eggs are commonly used as a food source, either cooked or raw.

Synonyms

egg cell, embryo, ovum

Examples of usage

I had scrambled eggs for breakfast.
She cracked open the egg to reveal a yolk inside.

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biology

In biology, an egg is the female reproductive cell. It is typically a small, non-motile gamete that is fertilized by a sperm cell to form a zygote.

Synonyms

gamete, ovum, zygote

Examples of usage

The egg and sperm combine to create a new organism.
The egg cell contains half of the genetic material needed to create life.

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slang

To egg someone or something is to throw eggs at them as a prank or act of vandalism.

Synonyms

bombard, pelt, throw eggs at

Examples of usage

The house was egged on Halloween night.
They egged the car as a form of retaliation.

Translations

Translations of the word "egg" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ovo

🇮🇳 अंडा

🇩🇪 Ei

🇮🇩 telur

🇺🇦 яйце

🇵🇱 jajo

🇯🇵 卵 (たまご)

🇫🇷 œuf

🇪🇸 huevo

🇹🇷 yumurta

🇰🇷 계란 (gyeran)

🇸🇦 بيضة (bayḍa)

🇨🇿 vejce

🇸🇰 vajce

🇨🇳 蛋 (dàn)

🇸🇮 jajce

🇮🇸 egg

🇰🇿 жұмыртқа

🇬🇪 კვერცხი (k'verts'khi)

🇦🇿 yumurta

🇲🇽 huevo

Word origin

The word 'egg' has Old English origins, with similar words in other Germanic languages. The use of eggs as a food source dates back thousands of years, with evidence of egg consumption by ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians and Romans. In biology, the term 'egg' has been used to describe the female reproductive cell since the 17th century. The act of egging as a prank has been recorded in various cultures and is often associated with mischief or vandalism.