spoon

1 of 2

noun

ˈspün 

1

a

: an eating or cooking implement consisting of a small shallow bowl with a relatively long handle

b

: spoonful

two spoons of sugar

2

: something (such as a tool or fishing lure) that resembles a spoon in shape

spoon

2 of 2

verb

spooned; spooning; spoons

transitive verb

: to take up and usually transfer in a spoon

intransitive verb

1

: to nestle close together while lying down with one person facing the back of another

2

[perh. from the Welsh custom of an engaged man's presenting his fiancée with an elaborately carved wooden spoon] : to engage in amorous caressing, kissing, and conversation : neck

Synonyms of spoon

Noun

• scoop
• ladle

Verb

• scoop

Examples of spoon in a Sentence

Noun

an assortment of metal and wooden spoons should be part of every cook's culinary arsenal

Verb

She spooned the gravy onto her potatoes.

He spooned the ice cream into a bowl.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Time to take our spoon to the next bodega. —Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026

Start peeling from the wider end, then slide a spoon under the shell to help lift it off. —Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Apr. 2026

Verb

Kids can pour and stir the salts, count out drops of essential oil and help spoon the mixture into small glass jars. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026

Behind the glass counter, a row of women works with quiet efficiency, spooning refried beans, spicy chorizo, and fresh toppings into warm tortillas before passing them back to the cooks to finish on the griddle. —Carrie Honaker, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English spōn splinter, chip; akin to Old High German spān splinter, chip

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1715, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing spoon

• born with a silver spoon in one's mouth
• dessert spoon
• greasy spoon
• runcible spoon
• silver spoon
• slotted spoon
• soup spoon
• spoon-billed
• spoon bread
• spoon-feed

Rhymes for spoon

• boon
• brune
• coon
• croon
• dune
• goon
• hewn
• hoon
• june
• loon
• moon
• noon

Kids Definition

spoon

1 of 2 noun

ˈspün 

1

: a utensil with a small shallow bowl and a handle that is used especially in eating and cooking

2

: something (as a fishing lure) that resembles a spoon in shape

spoon

2 of 2 verb

: to take up in or as if in a spoon

Etymology

Noun

Old English spōn "a chip of wood"