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

The eight-piece set includes a solid spoon, slotted spoon, solid spatula, slotted spatula, pasta fork, deep ladle, meat carving fork, and skimmer to tackle everyday cooking tasks with ease. — Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2026

Simply let the meat brown first and start to break it up with a wooden or silicon spoon, then switch to the masher and put some elbow grease into it. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026

Verb

Taste and adjust the seasoning of the braising juices with salt as needed, then spoon the apricots and braising juices over the chicken. — ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026

Related Stories Entertainment marketers once closely guarded their marketing materials and spooned out their campaigns with tactical precision on timing and platforms. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 17 Sep. 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"