Egg/eɡ/ Definition 1 of 5Pro Tip 1/3Animal Origin Understand 'egg' refers to offspring housed within a protective layer, not just a food item. The turtle laid eggs in the sand. Pro Tip 2/3Species Variation Eggs can vary in size and color depending on the species, some may be speckled or plain. We found tiny, speckled bird eggs in the tree. Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical Use 'Egg' can be used metaphorically to denote something new or a start of a process. Their new business idea was still in the egg.