egg1
n.
- an oval or round object laid by a female bird, reptile, fish, or invertebrate and containing an ovum which if fertilized can develop into a new organism.
▸an infertile egg, typically of the domestic hen, used for food.
- Biology the female reproductive cell in animals and plants; an ovum.
- informal, dated a person of a specified kind:
he's a thoroughly bad egg.
- Architecture a decorative oval moulding, used alternately with triangular figures.
Phrase
- kill the goose that lays the golden eggs
destroy a reliable and valuable source of income.
[with allusion to one of Aesop's fables.]
- with egg on one's face
informal appearing foolish or ridiculous.
Derivative
Etymology
ME (superseding earlier ey, from OE æg): from ON.
egg2
v.
(
egg someone on)
urge or encourage someone to do something foolish or risky.
Etymology
ME: from ON eggja ‘incite’.