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

• spoon

Verb

• 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

The ladle in a kitchen drawer leads her to the Big Dipper and Joseph’s pit and the wells dug by the patriarchs in the book of Genesis. —Ilana Kurshan, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2025

There were ladles stored a bucket of stagnant water at the cook’s line, and mopheads in a mop sink The restaurant was reinspected on Monday, Aug. 18, and received a green placard. —Sacbee.com, 22 Aug. 2025

Verb

The highlight for many is the Clam Chowder Cook-Off, where local restaurants go head-to-head, ladling out samples for visitors to taste and vote on. —Pismo Beach Conference, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2025

Her legacy endures with the scarf-worthy burritos, burgers, smothered fries and tamales, most of them available with savory green chile stew ladled on top. —John Wenzel, Denver Post, 13 Aug. 2025

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

Rhymes for ladle

• cradle
• decadal

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