egg case

noun

: a protective case enclosing eggs : ootheca

called also egg capsule

Examples of egg case in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Experts recommend inspecting your tree for light brown egg cases, snipping them off, and leaving them outdoors. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Dec. 2023 Big Skates lay large, dark brown egg cases that are made of a hard protein. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Oct. 2023 Commonly referred to as a mermaid’s purse, each egg case can contain multiple embryos. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Oct. 2023 Jones says German cockroaches (the most common kind) can hold up to 90 nymphs per egg case. Danielle Tullo, House Beautiful, 15 June 2023 The aquarium received two egg cases from the Aquarium of the Bay. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Oct. 2023 Around 15 percent of the shark and ray egg cases bore evidence of predation, the researchers found, with little difference between elasmobranch species. Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 24 July 2023 Another novel characteristic of swell sharks is their egg cases, which are long and thin, brownish-yellow pouches. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Aug. 2023 One recent study using data from the project was even able to estimate how many egg cases get eaten by predators, based on tooth marks. Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 24 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'egg case.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of egg case was in 1847

Dictionary Entries Near egg case

Cite this Entry

“Egg case.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/egg%20case. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

egg case

noun
: a case that encloses and protects eggs (as of an insect)
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