EGG

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does egg mean? 

• EGG (noun)
  The noun EGG has 3 senses:

1. animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum or embryo together with nutritive and protective envelopes; especially the thin-shelled reproductive body laid by e.g. female birds

2. oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food

3. one of the two male reproductive glands that produce spermatozoa and secrete androgens

  Familiarity information: EGG used as a noun is uncommon.

• EGG (verb)
  The verb EGG has 2 senses:

1. throw eggs at

2. coat with beaten egg

  Familiarity information: EGG used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EGG (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum or embryo together with nutritive and protective envelopes; especially the thin-shelled reproductive body laid by e.g. female birds

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("egg" is a kind of...):

egg cell; ovum (the female reproductive cell; the female gamete)

Meronyms (parts of "egg"):

vitellus; yolk (nutritive material of an ovum stored for the nutrition of an embryo (especially the yellow mass of a bird or reptile egg))

chalaza (one of two spiral bands of tissue connecting the egg yolk to the enclosing membrane at either end of the shell)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "egg"):

nit (egg or young of an insect parasitic on mammals especially a sucking louse; often attached to a hair or item of clothing)

spawn (the mass of eggs deposited by fish or amphibians or molluscs)

roe (the eggs or egg-laden ovary of a fish)

silkworm seed (eggs of a silkworm)

roe (eggs of female fish)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Synonyms:

egg; eggs

Hypernyms ("egg" is a kind of...):

food product; foodstuff (a substance that can be used or prepared for use as food)

Meronyms (parts of "egg"):

albumen; egg white; ovalbumin; white (the white part of an egg; the nutritive and protective gelatinous substance surrounding the yolk consisting mainly of albumin dissolved in water)

egg yolk; yolk (the yellow spherical part of an egg that is surrounded by the albumen)

eggshell; shell (the exterior covering of a bird's egg)

Meronyms (substance of "egg"):

protein (any of a large group of nitrogenous organic compounds that are essential constituents of living cells; consist of polymers of amino acids; essential in the diet of animals for growth and for repair of tissues; can be obtained from meat and eggs and milk and legumes)

Derivation:

egg (coat with beaten egg)

egg (throw eggs at)

Sense 3

Meaning:

One of the two male reproductive glands that produce spermatozoa and secrete androgens

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

ball; ballock; bollock; egg; nut; orchis; testicle; testis

Context example:

she kicked him in the balls and got away

Hypernyms ("egg" is a kind of...):

male reproductive gland (the reproductive organs of a man)

gonad; sex gland (a gland in which gametes (sex cells) are produced)

Meronyms (parts of "egg"):

seminiferous tubule (any of the numerous long convoluted tubules in the testis which are the sites where spermatozoa mature)

spermatic cord (a structure resembling a cord that suspends the testis within the scrotum and contains the vas deferens and other vessels and nerves)

testicular vein; vena testicularis (a vein from the testicles)

arteria testicularis; internal spermatic artery; testicular artery (a branch of the aorta supplying the testicles)

epididymis (a convoluted tubule in each testis; carries sperm to vas deferens)

rete testis (network of tubules carrying sperm from the seminiferous tubules to the vasa efferentia)

ductus deferens; vas deferens (a duct that carries spermatozoa from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "egg"):

cobblers (a man's testicles (from Cockney rhyming slang: cobbler's awl rhymes with ball))

undescended testicle; undescended testis (a testis that fails to move into the scrotum as the male fetus develops)

Holonyms ("egg" is a part of...):

male reproductive system (the reproductive system of males)

family jewels; male genital organ; male genitalia; male genitals (external male sex organs)

• EGG (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they egg    ... he / she / it eggs   
Past simple: egged   
Past participle: egged   
-ing form: egging   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Throw eggs at

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "egg" is one way to...):

bombard; pelt (cast, hurl, or throw repeatedly with some missile)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

egg (oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Coat with beaten egg

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

egg a schnitzel

Hypernyms (to "egg" is one way to...):

coat; surface (put a coat on; cover the surface of; furnish with a surface)

Domain category:

cookery; cooking; preparation (the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

egg (oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food)

 Context examples 

It contains hormones that block the release of eggs from the ovaries.

(Birth control pill, NCI Dictionary)

A condition in which cells that may become cancer form in the thin layer of tissue that covers an ovary (female reproductive gland in which eggs are made).

(Borderline Ovarian Surface Epithelial-Stromal Tumor, NCI Dictionary)

It may also be possible to catch bird flu by eating poultry or eggs that are not well cooked or through contact with a person who has it.

(Bird Flu, NIH)

It is found in yeast, whole milk, egg yolks, and organ meats.

(Biotin, NCI Dictionary)

A type of protein found in blood, egg white, milk, and other substances.

(Albumin, NCI Dictionary)

You can get B vitamins from proteins such as fish, poultry, meat, eggs, and dairy products.

(B Vitamins, NIH)

Highest expression is seen in unfertilized eggs and early embryos.

(BRAHMA, NCI Thesaurus)

It happens when a fertilized egg doesn't become a fetus.

(Cancer and Pregnancy, NIH)

The membrane in hens' eggs that helps chicken embryos get enough oxygen and calcium for development.

(Chorioallantoic membrane, NCI Dictionary)

Germ cells are reproductive cells that develop into sperm in males and eggs in females.

(Childhood Extracranial Germ Cell Tumor, NCI Dictionary)