spoon

1 of 2

noun

ˈspün 

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

Synonyms

Noun

• dipper
• ladle
• scoop

Verb

• bucket
• dip
• lade
• ladle
• scoop

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 slotted spoon, transfer meatballs to a plate and set aside. —Kelly Brant, arkansasonline.com, 6 Nov. 2024

The rarest piece in the Museum set (Carney estimates that there may be four surviving in the world) is a porcelain salt spoon with a bowl the size of a hazelnut half and a handle that’s barely thicker than a toothpick. —Anna Hezel, Curbed, 1 Nov. 2024

Verb

Place the pork steaks on one side of the sheet pan and spoon any extra sauce on top. —Tribune News Service, The Denver Post, 30 Oct. 2024

The dance, a blend of jazz and hip hop, features hand gestures that mimic spooning something into the mouth, then placing both hands atop the head to form dog ears and opening and then extending the palms outward like cat claws — a move that would make dancers from Cats proud. —Leslie Katz, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024

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

Phrases Containing spoon

• born with a silver spoon in one's mouth
• greasy spoon
• runcible spoon
• silver spoon
• slotted spoon
• spoon-billed
• spoon bread
• spoon-feed

Kids Definition

spoon

1 of 2 noun

ˈspün 

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"