egg
egg Lexical Profile
egg Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The egg of a domestic bird, especially a chicken, used widely as a culinary ingredient or food source.
"She cracked an egg into the frying pan to make breakfast."
The oval or round reproductive body laid by the females of many animals, such as birds, reptiles, and fish, consisting of a developing embryo, its food store, and a protective shell or jelly.
"The female robin laid a beautiful, pale blue egg in her nest."
The mature female reproductive cell in animals and plants, which can develop into an embryo after fertilization.
"During fertilization, a single sperm successfully penetrates the egg."
• verb
To urge, encourage, or incite someone to take an action, often something foolish or risky (typically used with 'on').
"The crowd egged him on as he prepared to jump off the high diving board."
To throw eggs at a person, building, or vehicle, usually as a prank, protest, or act of vandalism.
"The angry protesters egged the politician's car as it slowly passed through the street."
Word Nuance & Usage
As a verb meaning to urge or incite, 'egg' is almost exclusively used in the phrasal verb 'egg on', which is etymologically distinct from the noun and derives from a different Old Norse root meaning to edge or provoke.
• Rhymes for egg
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'egge', from Old Norse 'egg', which ultimately replaced the Old English cognate 'ǣg'. Both derive from Proto-Germanic '*ajją' and Proto-Indo-European '*h₂ōwyóm' (bird, egg). The verb meaning 'to incite' comes from Old Norse 'eggja' (to edge or provoke).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.