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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Use a spoon to glaze the chicken with the sauce, then transfer it to a platter or plates to serve. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2025 Try adding a spoon of Lion’s Brain Honey ― golden honey infused with lion’s mane mushrooms ― to your next cup of joe. Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
With jammy, juicy cherries swimming in a salty, tangy sauce, all spooned over crispy-skilled chicken, the foundation is strong. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2025 Bolognese Bolognese is a classic sauce for pasta, but this version is also excellent with rice, potatoes or spooned over tender roasted spaghetti squash and acorn squash. Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spoon

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spoon. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

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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