teaspoon
TEE-spoon
Teaspoon (noun) means a small spoon used for stirring drinks or eating small amounts of food. Example: “She stirred her tea with a small silver teaspoon.”
noun
1
A small spoon used for stirring drinks or eating small amounts of food.
"She stirred her tea with a small silver teaspoon."
2
A unit of measurement in cooking, roughly 5 millilitres.
"The recipe calls for a teaspoon of vanilla extract."
How to use teaspoon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the small spoon itself, or the cooking measurement it's based on.
Common mistake
In recipes, a teaspoon (tsp) is much smaller than a tablespoon (tbsp) — mixing them up can ruin a dish.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a teaspoon of sugar
level teaspoon
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Word forms
- Plural
- teaspoons
- Third person singular
- teaspoons
- Past tense
- teaspooned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She stirred her tea with a small silver _____.
Etymology
A compound of tea and spoon, named for its original use stirring tea.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for teaspoon
See all rhymes for teaspoon →Frequently asked questions
What does “teaspoon” mean?
The word “teaspoon” means a small spoon used for stirring drinks or eating small amounts of food. In plain terms, either the small spoon itself, or the cooking measurement it's based on.
How do you pronounce “teaspoon”?
“Teaspoon” is pronounced TEE-spoon (/ˈtiˌspun/ in IPA).
How do you use “teaspoon” in a sentence?
Here is “teaspoon” used in a sentence: “She stirred her tea with a small silver teaspoon.”
What part of speech is “teaspoon”?
“Teaspoon” is a noun.
Is “teaspoon” a common word?
“Teaspoon” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “teaspoon” have?
“Teaspoon” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small spoon used for stirring drinks or eating small amounts of food.
