ladle

1 of 2

noun

la·​dle ˈlā-dᵊl 

1

: a deep-bowled long-handled spoon used especially for dipping up and conveying liquids

2

: something resembling a ladle in form or function

ladleful

ˈlā-dᵊl-ˌfu̇l 

noun

ladle

2 of 2

verb

ladled; ladling ˈlā-dᵊl-iŋ 

ˈlād-liŋ

transitive verb

: to take up and convey in or as if in a ladle

Synonyms

Noun

• dipper
• scoop
• spoon

Verb

• bucket
• dip
• lade
• scoop
• spoon

Examples of ladle in a Sentence

Noun

the chef looked around for a ladle to add the chicken broth to the pot

Verb

The soup was ladled into the bowls.

ladling the wine into cups

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For instance, historians have long thought about Roman trade with the East in terms of luxury items enjoyed by small numbers of Roman elites: Pliny mentions a rock-crystal ladle worth 150,000 sesterces, for example, and an opal ring that cost two million sesterces. —Jo Marchant, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 June 2024

Using a ladle or spoon, add the sauce on top of the cheese. —Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 28 May 2024

Verb

Cincinnati Chili Instead of ladling this chili over spaghetti, try a few spoonfuls on your hot dog to transform it into a Cheese Coney, Cincinnati’s regional riff on Michigan’s Coney Island Hot Dog. —Anna Luisa Rodriguez, Washington Post, 28 June 2024

Lastly, they are ladled with the perfect blend of queso with just a hint of heat. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English ladel, from Old English hlædel, from hladan

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1532, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ladle

1 of 2 noun

la·​dle ˈlād-ᵊl 

: a spoon or dipper with a long handle and a deep bowl used for dipping

ladleful

-ˌfu̇l 

noun

ladle

2 of 2 verb

ladled; ladling ˈlād-liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

: to take up and carry in or as if in a ladle