teaspoon

noun

tea·​spoon ˈtē-ˌspün 

-ˈspün

1

: a small spoon that is used especially for eating soft foods and stirring beverages and that holds about one third of a tablespoon

2

: a unit of measure especially in cookery equal to ¹/₆ fluid ounce or ¹/₃ tablespoon (5 milliliters)

Examples of teaspoon in a Sentence

She stirred her coffee with a teaspoon.

He measured the salt with a teaspoon.

She put a teaspoon of sugar in her coffee.

Recent Examples on the Web

Sprinkle a couple of teaspoons of baking soda in the toilet to help deodorize and clean the bowl. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2024

Stir in the mayonnaise, butter, Dijon mustard, hot sauce, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper and mix until smooth. —Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 28 Dec. 2024

Total time: 45 minutes 2 cans (15-ounces each) chickpeas 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 ½ teaspoons turmeric 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder 1 teaspoon curry powder ½ teaspoon ground black pepper ½ teaspoon sea salt Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. —Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 21 Dec. 2024

Dried Lemon and Fresh Chive Sour Cream Sauce: Combine 3 tablespoons minced fresh chives, 1 cup sour cream, ¼ teaspoon dried lemon peel (or ½ teaspoon grated fresh lemon zest), generous pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. —Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing teaspoon

• level teaspoon/tablespoon

Kids Definition

teaspoon

noun

tea·​spoon ˈtē-ˌspün 

-ˈspün

1

: a small spoon used especially for eating soft foods and stirring beverages

2

: a unit of measure used especially in cooking equal to ⅙ fluid ounce or ⅓ tablespoon (about 5 milliliters)

Medical Definition

teaspoon

noun

tea·​spoon ˈtē-ˌspün, -ˈspün 

: a unit of measure equal to ¹/₆ fluid ounce or ¹/₃ tablespoon or 5 milliliters