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tablespoon

/ˈteɪbəlˌspun/
/ˈteɪbəlspun/
IPA guide

Other forms: tablespoons

A tablespoon is a unit of measurement in cooking, and it's also the name of the utensil you use to measure this amount. If you love spicy foods, you might pour a couple of tablespoons of Tabasco sauce on your scrambled eggs.

You can also call a serving spoon a tablespoon, and this is the word's original meaning, from "spoon for table service," first used around 1760. In some places, a large spoon used for eating is more likely to be called a tablespoon, while other people use the word specifically to mean a measuring spoon that holds an amount equal to three teaspoons, or 1/2 a fluid ounce.

Definitions of tablespoon
  1. noun
    a spoon larger than a dessert spoon; used for serving
    see moresee less
    type of:
    spoon
    a piece of cutlery with a shallow bowl-shaped container and a handle; used to stir or serve or take up food
  2. noun
    as much as a tablespoon will hold
    synonyms: tablespoonful
    see moresee less
    type of:
    containerful
    the quantity that a container will hold
Pronunciation
US
/ˈteɪbəlˌspun/
UK
/ˈteɪbəlspun/
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