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
More commonly, though, these spoons shine when peanut bunker schools are getting hammered just offshore. Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 17 Oct. 2024 Skip the spoon and reach for the hand mixer instead. Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2024
Verb
For crisp chicken skin, resist the urge to spoon sauce over it during baking. Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 1 Oct. 2024 This gravy, which is delicious spooned over biscuits, can be made with ripe or canned tomatoes. Krissy Tiglias, Southern Living, 8 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for spoon 

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 31 Oct. 2024.

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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