egg

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 [C] a small OVAL object with a thin hard shell produced by a female bird and containing a young bird; a similar object produced by a female fish, insect, etc: The female sits on the eggs until they hatch. * The fish lay thousands of eggs at one time. * crocodile eggs 2 [C,U] a bird's egg, especially one from a chicken, that is eaten as food: a boiled egg * bacon and eggs * fried / poached / scrambled eggs * Bind the mixture together with a little beaten egg. * You've got some egg on your shirt. * egg yolks / whites * egg noodles / pasta * ducks' / quails' eggs * a chocolate egg (= made from chocolate in the shape of an egg) seealsoEASTEREGG, SCOTCHEGG 3 [C] (in women and female animals) a cell that combines with a SPERM to create a baby or young animal: The male sperm fertilizes the female egg. * an egg donor seealsoNESTEGG IDIOMS have egg on / all over your face (informal) to be made to look stupid: They were left with egg on their faces when only ten people showed up. put all your eggs in one basket to rely on one particular course of action for success rather than giving yourself several different possibilities: I've applied for several jobs. I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket. moreatCHICKENn., CURATE, KILLv., OMELETTE, SUREadv., TEACH verb PHRASALVERBS egg sb<->on to encourage sb to do sth, especially sth that they should not do: He hit the other boy again and again as his friends egged him on.