noun
tbsp
TAY-bl-spoon
Tbsp (noun) means Written abbreviation of tablespoon, a standard cooking measure equal to three teaspoons, about 15 millilitres in the UK and US and 20 millilitres in Australia. Example: “Add 2 tbsp olive oil and stir.”
noun
1
Written abbreviation of tablespoon, a standard cooking measure equal to three teaspoons, about 15 millilitres in the UK and US and 20 millilitres in Australia.
"Add 2 tbsp olive oil and stir."
"The recipe calls for 1 tbsp of tomato purée."
How to use tbsp
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishShort for tablespoon in a recipe.
When to use it
Recipe and packaging shorthand; write it out as tablespoon in ordinary prose.
Memory tip
Capital T means tablespoon and lowercase t means teaspoon in older American recipes — an easy mistake to make.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
2 tbsp oil
1 tbsp sugar
level tbsp
heaped tbsp
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Add 2 _____ olive oil and stir.
Etymology
A written abbreviation of tablespoon.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between tbsp and tsp?
Tbsp is a tablespoon and tsp is a teaspoon, and one tablespoon equals three teaspoons. Mixing them up triples or thirds the quantity, which matters most with salt, baking powder and spices.
How many millilitres is a tbsp?
15 ml in the UK, US and Canada, and 20 ml in Australia, which is four teaspoons rather than three. For accuracy in baking, use a proper measuring spoon rather than cutlery from the drawer.
Is tbsp written with a full stop or an s in the plural?
It is normally written without a full stop and does not change in the plural: 2 tbsp, not 2 tbsps. American style often adds a full stop, as in 2 tbsp.
What is the meaning of tbsp?
"tbsp" (noun) means written abbreviation of tablespoon, a standard cooking measure equal to three teaspoons, about 15 millilitres in the UK and US and 20 millilitres in Australia.
