egg cup
B1Neutral to informal
Definition
Meaning
A small cup or container designed to hold a boiled egg upright while it is being eaten.
A small, often decorative, holder for a single boiled egg, typically part of a table setting for breakfast. Can also refer to the measurement of an egg's volume in some historical or culinary contexts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A compound noun where 'egg' functions as a noun adjunct modifying 'cup'. The term is concrete and specific, with little semantic ambiguity. It is primarily a functional household item.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The object and term are common in both varieties, but its cultural association with a traditional boiled egg breakfast is stronger in British contexts. The spelling remains the same.
Connotations
In British English, it often connotes a traditional, perhaps slightly old-fashioned, breakfast ritual. In American English, it may be seen as a specialty item or associated with formal brunch settings.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English due to the greater cultural prevalence of eating soft-boiled eggs.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] placed the egg in the egg cup.[Subject] bought a new egg cup.[Subject] is shaped like an egg cup.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"Don't put all your eggs in one basket" (conceptual, not directly related to the object).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in manufacturing, retail (homeware), or auction contexts (e.g., 'a collection of antique egg cups').
Academic
Rare, potentially in historical studies of domestic material culture or design.
Everyday
Common in domestic settings when discussing breakfast or tableware.
Technical
Rare.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I eat my boiled egg from an egg cup.
- The egg cup is white.
- Could you pass me the egg cup, please?
- She collects colourful egg cups from different countries.
- The antique egg cup, made of fine bone china, was a family heirloom.
- A proper soft-boiled egg requires a stable egg cup and some buttered toast 'soldiers'.
- The design of the egg cup, with its narrow base and wide rim, is optimised for stability and ease of spooning out the contents.
- Among the tableware, the humble egg cup serves as a fascinating case study in single-function domestic objects.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CUP that holds an EGG. It's a cup for an egg. Simple compound noun.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER FOR FOOD (a specific type of the CONTAINER metaphor).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'яичная чашка'. The standard Russian term is 'подставка для яйца' (podstavka dlya yaytsa).
Common Mistakes
- Spelling as one word: 'eggcup' (acceptable variant, but 'egg cup' is standard).
- Confusing with a 'measuring cup' for eggs.
- Using plural incorrectly: 'eggs cup' instead of 'egg cups'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of an egg cup?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is most commonly written as two separate words ('egg cup'), though the closed compound 'eggcup' is also an accepted variant.
'Soldiers' are thin strips of buttered toast, traditionally served with a soft-boiled egg in an egg cup. They are dipped into the runny yolk.
While designed for eggs, people sometimes use them as small containers for holding pins, beads, or as a tiny vase for a single flower.
No, it is not essential, but it is a convenient tool that prevents a boiled egg from rolling around on the plate and makes it easier to eat.