spoon
spoon
Spoon (noun) means a utensil with a small shallow bowl on a handle, used for eating, stirring, or serving. Example: “The toddler held a plastic spoon in her fist and tried to feed herself.”
noun
1
A utensil with a small shallow bowl on a handle, used for eating, stirring, or serving.
"The toddler held a plastic spoon in her fist and tried to feed herself."
"He stirred his coffee with a teaspoon."
"Grab a spoon so you can eat the soup."
2
Informally, a unit representing someone's limited daily energy, especially used by people with chronic illness.
"I only have a few spoons left today, so I will skip the party."
"Cooking dinner used up my last spoon, so I had to rest afterwards."
"She said she was out of spoons after just one meeting."
verb
1
To lie close together, front-to-back, in a nested position like stacked spoons.
"The two puppies spooned together in their basket to keep warm."
"On cold nights, we like to spoon under a heavy blanket and talk quietly."
"They fell asleep spooning on the sofa."
How to use spoon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe eating utensil, or the act of cuddling nested together.
Common pairings
spoon someone
wooden spoon
big spoon / little spoon
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Word forms
- Plural
- spoons
- Third person singular
- spoons
- Past tense
- spooned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The toddler held a plastic _____ in her fist and tried to feed herself.
Etymology
From Old English spōn, originally meaning "a chip or shaving of wood" — early spoons were carved from wood.
Related words
Rhymes for spoon
See all rhymes for spoon →Frequently asked questions
What does “spoon” mean?
The word “spoon” means a utensil with a small shallow bowl on a handle, used for eating, stirring, or serving. In plain terms, the eating utensil, or the act of cuddling nested together.
How do you pronounce “spoon”?
“Spoon” is pronounced spoon (/spuːn/ in IPA).
How do you use “spoon” in a sentence?
Here is “spoon” used in a sentence: “He stirred his coffee with a teaspoon.”
What part of speech is “spoon”?
Depending on how it is used, “spoon” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “spoon” come from?
The word “spoon” comes from Old English. From Old English spōn, originally meaning "a chip or shaving of wood" — early spoons were carved from wood.
Is “spoon” a common word?
“Spoon” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “spoon” have?
“Spoon” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a utensil with a small shallow bowl on a handle, used for eating, stirring, or serving.
What is the difference between a spoon and a tablespoon?
A spoon is the general utensil with a shallow bowl on a handle. A tablespoon is a specific larger spoon used for serving or eating, and it also names a standard cooking measure, usually about 15 millilitres.
What is the difference between a spoon and a spork?
A spoon has a shallow rounded bowl for scooping and stirring. A spork combines a spoon and a fork, adding short prongs to the bowl so it can both scoop and spear food.
