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egg timer

American  

noun

  1. a small hourglass or clock device running about three to five minutes, used to time the boiling of an egg.


egg timer British  

noun

  1. a device, typically a miniature hourglass, for timing the boiling of an egg

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of egg timer

First recorded in 1880–85


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

At nearly 11 inches in height, the bejeweled object might be mistaken for a flamboyant kitchen egg timer.

From New York Times ● May 9, 2024

The Lib Dem leader used a fake egg timer to suggest time was running out for the PM as he claimed voters were turning to his party.

From BBC ● Mar. 20, 2024

You’ve got one of Amazon’s Echo smart speakers set up and it’s super handy for playing music, checking the weather, setting an egg timer — all hands-free.

From The Verge ● Oct. 27, 2021

All I remember is hearing my mom yell, “Bill, we’re getting out the egg timer if you don’t hurry up!”

From Slate ● Nov. 28, 2018

We set the egg timer for one minute.

From "When You Reach Me" by Rebecca Stead

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