spoon

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: an eating or cooking implement consisting of a small shallow bowl with a relatively long handle
b
: spoonful
two spoons of sugar
2
: something (such as a tool or fishing lure) that resembles a spoon in shape

spoon

2 of 2

verb

spooned; spooning; spoons

transitive verb

: to take up and usually transfer in a spoon

intransitive verb

1
: to nestle close together while lying down with one person facing the back of another
2
[perh. from the Welsh custom of an engaged man's presenting his fiancée with an elaborately carved wooden spoon] : to engage in amorous caressing, kissing, and conversation : neck

Examples of spoon in a Sentence

Noun an assortment of metal and wooden spoons should be part of every cook's culinary arsenal Verb She spooned the gravy onto her potatoes. He spooned the ice cream into a bowl.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Using a chef’s knife, slice it in half lengthwise, then use a large spoon to scoop out the creamy flesh. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Apr. 2024 Use a spoon to mix the soju and beer together—or for a party, try a…. Irene Yoo, Bon Appétit, 16 Apr. 2024 Gently mix the fruit, honey, lemon zest and juice, and most of the mint with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. 2. Yakir Levy, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024 Add chorizo to pan and cook, breaking it up with a wood spoon, until well browned and cooked through. Gretchen McKay, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024 The cup will act like a spoon, helping to separate the flesh cleanly from the skin. Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2024 The set consists of a stainless steel pot and vented lid, a 3-ply frying pan, a cutting board, a spatula, and a serving spoon — and these are just the cooking supplies. Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024 Press through a wire-mesh strainer into a 3-qt. saucepan, using back of a spoon to squeeze out juice; discard pulp. Stir in sugar. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2024 The set includes two spoons, a bowl, and a cup, all made of food-grade silicone that’s safe to toss in the dishwasher. Maya Polton, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
For dessert, diners can spoon up honey-baklava frozen yogurt. John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2024 Once the pie crust has cooled, spoon enough Filling to completely cover the bottom of the pie. Michelle Gross, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2024 Place the balls of dough on the pan, create a divot in the center, then spoon in some compote. Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2024 Then, the rest is fried until golden and spooned on top as a crisp garnish. Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024 Once your cookies have cooled, spoon approximately ¼ cup of marshmallow crème into the center of 12 cookies. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 6 Apr. 2024 Slice the meat into six equal portions, spoon the wine sauce on top, and serve. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Mar. 2024 To serve, spoon a little rice in the center of a lettuce leaf. Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2024 Just stir up the dough, spoon it into the pot, cover and come back in about a half-hour. Sheri Castle, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spoon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English spōn splinter, chip; akin to Old High German spān splinter, chip

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1715, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of spoon was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near spoon

Cite this Entry

“Spoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spoon. Accessed 2 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

spoon

1 of 2 noun
1
: a utensil with a small shallow bowl and a handle that is used especially in eating and cooking
2
: something (as a fishing lure) that resembles a spoon in shape

spoon

2 of 2 verb
: to take up in or as if in a spoon
Etymology

Noun

Old English spōn "a chip of wood"

More from Merriam-Webster on spoon

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