egg

[[t]e̱g[/t]]

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eggs, egging, egged

1) N-COUNT An egg is an oval object that is produced by a female bird and which contains a baby bird. Other animals such as reptiles and fish also lay eggs.

...a baby bird hatching from its egg.

...ant eggs.

2) N-VAR In Western countries, eggs often means hen's eggs, eaten as food.

Break the eggs into a shallow bowl and beat them lightly.

...bacon and eggs.

3) N-COUNT: usu supp N Egg is used to refer to an object in the shape of a hen's egg.

...a chocolate egg.

4) N-COUNT An egg is a cell that is produced in the bodies of female animals and humans. If it is fertilized by a sperm, a baby develops from it.

It only takes one sperm to fertilize an egg.

5) → See also , nest egg, Scotch egg

6) PHRASE: usu v PHR If someone puts all their eggs in one basket, they put all their effort or resources into doing one thing so that, if it fails, they have no alternatives left.

The key word here is diversify; don't put all your eggs in one basket.

7) PHRASE: face inflects, have/with PHR If someone has egg on their face or has egg all over their face, they have been made to look foolish.

If they take this game lightly they could end up with egg on their faces.

8) a chicken and egg situation → see chicken

the goose that lay the golden egg → see goose

Phrasal Verbs:

- egg on