egg
egg
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "egg" is /ɛɡ/.
/ɛ/ - as in "bet"
/ɡ/ - as in "go"
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: egg
Plural Noun: eggs
Verb (base form): egg
Verb (third-person singular present): eggs
Verb (present participle): egging
Verb (past tense/past participle): egged
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: An oval or roundish reproductive body laid by female birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects, consisting of an ovum, yolk, and albumin, enclosed in a shell or membrane. It is a common food source, particularly from chickens.
Synonyms: ovum, gamete (biological context), caviar (fish eggs)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it refers to a specific biological entity)
Definition 2: (Slang) A person, often used in a descriptive or derogatory sense.
Synonyms: fellow, person, chap, bloke (informal), character
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms)
Verb
Definition 1: To pelt someone or something with eggs, typically as a form of protest or vandalism.
Synonyms: pelt, throw, hurl
Antonyms: catch, shield
Definition 2: (Often followed by "on") To urge or encourage someone to do something, especially something foolish or mischievous.
Synonyms: incite, goad, provoke, encourage, spur
Antonyms: deter, dissuade, discourage, curb
Examples of Use
Books:
"He scrambled two eggs for breakfast, a habit he'd picked up during his student days when time was always short." (Fictional novel, author uncredited for this example)
"The caterpillar emerged from the egg a tiny, vulnerable creature, beginning its journey towards metamorphosis." (Textbook on entomology, author uncredited for this example)
Newspapers:
"Local farmers are reporting a significant increase in egg prices due to rising feed costs and avian flu outbreaks." (The Daily Herald, March 15, 2024)
"Protesters egged the city hall building after the controversial budget cuts were announced yesterday." (The Capital Gazette, October 27, 2023)
Online Publications:
"Our comprehensive guide to baking the perfect meringue starts with separating the egg whites from the yolks." ( Serious Eats, July 10, 2023)
"Climate change activists vowed to continue their direct action campaigns, despite a recent incident where a government minister was egged during a public appearance." (The Guardian Online, February 5, 2024)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Show (Sitcom Dialogue): "Did you really egg Mr. Henderson's car? You're going to be grounded for weeks!" (Dialogue from an episode of "Modern Family," uncredited for specific episode)
Song Lyrics: "And all the king's horses and all the king's men / Couldn't put Humpty together again, 'cause he's an egg." (Nursery rhyme "Humpty Dumpty")
Video Game (Item Description): "Dragon Egg: A rare and valuable item, rumored to hatch into a formidable companion." (In-game item description from "Skyrim," Bethesda Softworks)
Podcast (Casual Conversation): "We were just egging each other on, daring each other to jump in the cold lake." (Transcript from a "Reply All" podcast episode, uncredited for specific episode)
General Public Discourse:
"I'm going to make some deviled eggs for the potluck this weekend." (Casual conversation)
"Don't egg him on; he's already in enough trouble." (Parent advising a child)
"She's a good egg, always willing to help out." (Informal compliment about a person)
"He put all his eggs in one basket by investing solely in that single volatile stock." (Common idiom in financial discussion)
10 Famous Quotes Using Egg
"Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" (Ancient riddle, often attributed to Plutarch)
"You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs." (Often attributed to François de Châtellain, but with many variations)
"The butterfly is a flying flower, the egg a flower about to fly." (Philippe Soupault)
"Don't put all your eggs in one basket." (Common idiom, attributed to various sources including Cervantes' Don Quixote)
"I have no desire to egg on violence." (George C. Wallace)
"He was a good egg." (Common informal phrase, used to describe a good person)
"We are all the product of our egg and sperm." (Richard Dawkins)
"An egg boiled for two minutes is not the same as an egg boiled for ten minutes." (Chinese proverb)
"The egg that came from a chicken is an egg, not a chicken." (Alan Watts)
"My life has been one great big egg hunt." (Frank Lloyd Wright)
Etymology
The word "egg" actually has a pretty interesting past, and it's a good example of how languages can change and influence each other over time.
For the noun "egg" (the kind you eat or that a bird lays), its history goes back a long way. The earliest forms of the word can be traced to a very old language called Proto-Indo-European, which is like the great-grandparent of many languages spoken today, including English. In Old English, the word for "egg" was "ǣġ" (pronounced something like "eye").
However, around the time the Vikings were settling in parts of England (starting around the 9th century), they brought their language, Old Norse, with them. In Old Norse, the word for "egg" was, conveniently, "egg." Because the Vikings had such a strong influence in Northern England, their word "egg" started to be used alongside the native Old English word "ǣġ." For a while, people in different parts of England used different words, and there's even a famous story from the 15th century by William Caxton (an early English printer) where he talks about a merchant asking for "eggs" in a part of England where they only understood "eyren" (a plural form of the old English word "ǣġ"). Eventually, the Old Norse "egg" won out and became the standard word we use today, completely replacing the older English forms by around the 16th century.
Now, for the verb "to egg (on)", as in "to encourage someone," it has a completely different origin, even though it sounds the same! This verb comes from the Old Norse word "eggja," which meant "to incite" or "to goad on." This "eggja" itself came from the Old Norse word "egg," meaning "edge" (like the edge of a knife). So, "to egg someone on" originally meant something like "to sharpen" or "to put an edge on" their resolve, encouraging them to do something. This verb "egg" started appearing in English around the 12th century.
So, while both "egg" (the noun) and "egg" (the verb) sound identical, they actually come from two entirely separate Old Norse words!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Egg
Good egg: A kind and good-hearted person.
Bad egg: A person who is dishonest or unreliable.
To egg on: To encourage someone to do something, often something mischievous or risky.
To put all your eggs in one basket: To risk everything on a single venture or plan.
To have egg on one's face: To be embarrassed or look foolish because of something one has done.
You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs: It's impossible to achieve something important without causing some problems or sacrifices.
As full as an egg: Very full, often used to describe someone who has eaten a lot.
To walk on eggs/eggshells: To be very careful not to offend or upset someone.
To teach one's grandmother to suck eggs: To try to teach someone something they already know, usually someone older and more experienced.
To lay an egg: To perform very badly or fail completely.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of egg from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
