Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old Norse

egg

1 noun
     
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egg1 S1 W2
1

bird

[countable]HB a round object with a hard surface, that contains a baby bird, snake, insect etc and which is produced by a female bird, snake, insect etc:
Blackbirds lay their eggs in March.
an ostrich egg
The eggs hatch (=break open to allow the baby out) in 26 days.
egg
2DF

food

[uncountable and countable] an egg, especially one from a chicken, that is used for food
Joe always has bacon and egg for breakfast.
Whisk the egg white (=the white part) until stiff.
Beat in two of the egg yolks (=the yellow part).
 ➔ scrambled egg
3

egg shape

[countable] something the same shape as an egg:
a chocolate Easter egg
 ➔ Easter egg
4

animals/people

[countable]HBH a cell produced by a woman or female animal that combines with sperm (=male cell) to make a baby [= ovum]
5

(have) egg on your face

if someone, especially someone in authority, has egg on their face, they have been made to look stupid by something embarrassing:
The Pentagon's been left with egg on its face.
6

put all your eggs in one basket

to depend completely on one thing or one course of action in order to get success, so that you have no other plans if this fails:
When planning your investments, it's unwise to put all your eggs in one basket.
7

lay an egg

American English informal to fail or be unsuccessful at something that you are trying to do
8

good egg

old-fashioned someone who you can depend on to be honest, kind etc

➔ kill the goose that lays the golden egg

at kill1 (14), nest egg
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
 
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