egg timer

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A small clock or device used to measure a set time, especially for boiling eggs.

   Grammar: It is a countable noun, so it can be used with 'a' or in the plural: an egg timer, two egg timers.

   Patterns

   • use an egg timer
   • set the egg timer

   I always use an egg timer to make sure my eggs are soft-boiled.

   The egg timer rang after three minutes, so I took the eggs out.

   She bought a cute egg timer shaped like a chicken.

2. 2nouncountablecomputing

   A digital or app-based timer used for any cooking or task that needs precise timing.

   Grammar: Same countable use, but often refers to a phone app or online tool.

   Patterns

   • set an egg timer on your phone
   • use an egg timer app

   I set an egg timer on my phone for ten minutes.

   The recipe says to use an egg timer for the pasta.

   He forgot to start the egg timer and burned the toast.

Word forms

Common combinations

set an egg timer

Please set an egg timer for five minutes.

use an egg timer

You should use an egg timer when boiling eggs.

the egg timer goes off

The egg timer goes off when the eggs are ready.

a digital egg timer

A digital egg timer is more accurate than a sand one.

an egg timer app

I downloaded an egg timer app for my phone.

Synonyms and how they differ

kitchen timer

A more general term for any timer used in cooking, not just for eggs.

timer

The general word; 'egg timer' is more specific and often suggests a small, egg-shaped device.

Commonly confused: egg timer or hourglass?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “egg timer”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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