teaspoon

noun

tea·​spoon ˈtē-ˌspün 

-ˈspün

1

: a small spoon that is used especially for eating soft foods and stirring beverages and that holds about one third of a tablespoon

2

: a unit of measure especially in cookery equal to ⅙ fluid ounce or ⅓ tablespoon (5 milliliters)

Examples of teaspoon in a Sentence

She stirred her coffee with a teaspoon.

He measured the salt with a teaspoon.

She put a teaspoon of sugar in her coffee.

Recent Examples on the Web

To prepare it, dissolve two teaspoons of matcha in ¼ cup cold water, then pour the mixture over two scoops of vanilla ice cream. —Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 12 May 2026

To test the gel stage, remove one of the plates from the freezer and spoon about a teaspoon of jam into the center. —Kelly Brant, Arkansas Online, 12 May 2026

Instead, add about ¼ teaspoon of baking powder per cup of self-rising flour, especially if it has been stored for several months, according to Smith. —Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 11 May 2026

Pettis put a half-teaspoon of the vibrant violet color on her palette, and then used the tip of her silver palette knife to capture a spot of color the size of a grain of rice. —Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 9 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing teaspoon

• level teaspoon/tablespoon

Rhymes for teaspoon

• attune
• baboon
• balloon
• bassoon
• buffoon
• cartoon
• cocoon
• festoon
• gaboon
• harpoon
• immune
• impugn

Kids Definition

teaspoon

noun

tea·​spoon ˈtē-ˌspün 

-ˈspün

1

: a small spoon used especially for eating soft foods and stirring beverages

2

: a unit of measure used especially in cooking equal to ⅙ fluid ounce or ⅓ tablespoon (about 5 milliliters)

Medical Definition

teaspoon

noun

tea·​spoon ˈtē-ˌspün, -ˈspün 

: a unit of measure equal to ¹/₆ fluid ounce or ¹/₃ tablespoon or 5 milliliters