eggshell

1 of 2

noun

egg·​shell ˈeg-ˌshel How to pronounce eggshell (audio)
ˈāg-
1
: the hard exterior covering of an egg
2
: something resembling an eggshell especially in fragility

eggshell

2 of 2

adjective

1
: thin and fragile
2
: slightly glossy
3
: yellowish white

Examples of eggshell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Another employee cracked a raw eggshell and continued handling food without washing their hands. Michael Braga, The Arizona Republic, 15 Dec. 2023 Their recipes were passed down through oral accounts and eventually made their way onto the page, but that is where the origin stories often get twisted, and to this day, unraveling the details can only be described as a delicate dance on eggshells. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2024 Then there are more unusual items such as quail eggshells and a World War II-era viewing device known as a stereoscope. Chicago Tribune, Orange County Register, 1 Feb. 2024 Plus, the sneakers are up to 24 percent off in three easy-to-style colors: eggshell, red, and blue. Andie Kanaras, Travel + Leisure, 23 Jan. 2024 All kinds of community group texts have unraveled because no one can agree; millennials have walked on eggshells for fear of upsetting their Gen Z partners. Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2024 Everything was so familiar: the silences, walking on eggshells, and my husband never apologizing for anything. Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2024 Peel-and-stick wallpaper works best on smooth surfaces and satin, semi-gloss, or eggshell paint finishes. Emma Phelps, Southern Living, 29 Jan. 2024 Another hack floating around social media claims that ground-up eggshells add calcium to houseplant soil. Lauren David, Washington Post, 17 Jan. 2024
Adjective
His thoughts are contained within four eggshell-white walls, the only connection to the outside world a window above his desk. Luca Evans, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2022 Let’s try this again: Imagine the color of cream cheese, that off-white, almost yellowish or eggshell white hue that graces our bagels and our cheesecakes in dense, creamy swirls. SI.com, 20 Oct. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'eggshell.' 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

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of eggshell was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near eggshell

Cite this Entry

“Eggshell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eggshell. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

eggshell

1 of 2 noun
egg·​shell -ˌshel How to pronounce eggshell (audio)
: the shell of an egg

eggshell

2 of 2 adjective
1
: being thin and fragile
eggshell china
2
: slightly glossy

Medical Definition

eggshell

noun
egg·​shell ˈeg-ˌshel, ˈāg- How to pronounce eggshell (audio)
: the hard exterior covering of an egg
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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