spoon

1 of 2

noun

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

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
Each option comes with a gold caviar keychain complete with a can opener, and two spoons; while the Pringles x The Caviar Co. Smoky Shores and the Pringles x The Caviar Co. Salt of The Sea both come with an exclusive — and super classy — Pringles serving tray. Lizzy Rosenberg, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2023 Using chopsticks or a spoon, stir until stringy and viscous. Megan Zhang, Saveur, 13 Sep. 2023 Working quickly, use a spoon to scoop 2 tablespoons of mixture in a mound on prepared baking sheet. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2023 The foot is significantly larger than our soup spoons and would be difficult for someone to unknowingly insert in their mouth. Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press, 30 Aug. 2023 The water in his bathroom sink was plentiful and warm, the dinnerware — bowls, spoons, cups, strainer (the man has an appetite) — suitably soiled. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2023 There's even a spoon holder built into the pan's handle. Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 2 Sep. 2023 Often packaged, not very fancy, and adorned with just a splash of almond milk and a spoon of nut butter. Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, 28 Aug. 2023 Back inside, things were often tranquil against the backdrop of tunes from the Steinway piano, the crackle of ice, and bar spoons swirling in mixing glasses. Paul Brady, Travel + Leisure, 24 Aug. 2023
Verb
Carefully spoon cranberry mixture over fudge layer, spreading in an even layer to cover the top completely. Torie Cox, Country Living, 8 Sep. 2023 Divide lamb in half and spoon into two small bowls. cleveland, 6 Sep. 2023 Your favorite ripe, seasonal fruits can be cooked down in minutes, then spooned into a pocket of dough and fried for a crowd-pleasing dessert in no time. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2023 By rights, any curse spooned atop the Halos should have ceased in 2002 with their only World Series title. Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2023 Remove skillet from oven and spoon pan juices over top of chicken to wet skin. America's Test Kitchen, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2023 Let cool for 10 minutes, then spoon into bowls and serve with vanilla ice cream. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 28 July 2023 Where jelly has to be spread, fruity jams can be spooned over a piece of toast. Patricia S York, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2023 Swift is smiling over her shoulder and holding a bowl and spoon with some snacks inside. Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 19 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spoon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of spoon was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near spoon

Cite this Entry

“Spoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spoon. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

spoon

1 of 2 noun
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"

More from Merriam-Webster on spoon

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