eggshell
Americannoun
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the shell of a bird's egg, consisting of keratin fibers and calcite crystals.
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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.
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being pale yellowish-white in color.
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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
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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
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to be very cautious or diplomatic for fear of upsetting someone
adjective
Etymology
Origin of eggshell
First recorded in 1250–1300, eggshell is from the Middle English word ayschelle. See egg 1, shell
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.
You must also save as much of the eggshell as possible.
From Literature
Are you walking on eggshells around certain issues, or purposely avoiding topics because they feel too risky to discuss?
From BBC
On the United States, he's walking on eggshells.
From Barron's
It would be several years, however, until she did not feel as if she was walking on eggshells, terrified that she might put a foot wrong and have her daughter leave again.
From BBC
They were as white as eggshells and looked just as delicate.
From Literature
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.
