eggshell
Americannoun
-
the shell of a bird's egg, consisting of keratin fibers and calcite crystals.
-
a pale yellowish-white color.
-
rather bulky paper having a slightly rough finish.
adjective
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like an eggshell, as in thinness and delicacy; very brittle; fragile.
-
being pale yellowish-white in color.
-
having little or no gloss.
eggshell white paint.
noun
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the hard porous protective outer layer of a bird's egg, consisting of calcite and protein
-
a yellowish-white colour
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a type of paper with a slightly rough finish
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(modifier) (of paint) having a very slight sheen
an eggshell finish
-
to be very cautious or diplomatic for fear of upsetting someone
adjective
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of eggshell
First recorded in 1250–1300, eggshell is from the Middle English word ayschelle. See egg 1, shell
Vocabulary lists containing eggshell
Non-Color Words to Use When Describing Color
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White
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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:
Like the large so-called moon jar that opens the exhibition, these capacious bowls glazed in eggshell white flaunt their foibles with wobbling edges that give character to otherwise pure forms.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026
At 90 °C, the eggshell surface helped recover formations of a rare earth compound called kozoite.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 5, 2024
A report from 2007 said it was feasible for influenza viruses to enter through the eggshell.
From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2024
The eggshell walls painted over and over and over again.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2024
Later the adults kissed Grandpa, giving him gentle abrazos so as not to cave in his eggshell chest.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
"But to be polarising is to be talked about and to be cared about, and I think I'd always rather that than be constantly treading on eggshells and trying to dictate how people perceive you."
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026
Fossilized dinosaur eggshells included in the study, for example, continued to show detectable statistical patterns connected to ancient biological activity.
From Science Daily ● May 12, 2026
“He’s walking on so many eggshells that he’s on his way to Pakistan at the president’s request to lead negotiations,” the spokesman said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 11, 2026
Curiously, DDT did not kill the birds outright, but rather caused their eggshells to collapse under the weight of the incubating adults.
From Slate ● Feb. 21, 2026
She and I are still on eggshells over the dress, and honestly, if she doesn’t let me wear it, I’m done for.
From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
