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

Microwave your sponge, cycle it through the dishwasher, or soak it in a solution of one-quarter to one-half of a teaspoon of concentrated bleach per quart of warm water to properly clean it. — Sarah Everett, The Spruce, 2 Nov. 2026

Add 1 teaspoon of the oregano as well as the Aleppo pepper and the cumin. — Candy Hom, AJC.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Drizzle a teaspoon over a plain yogurt bowl instead of buying the pre-sweetened kind, or pour it over homemade pancakes and waffles. — Danielle Bouchard, Martha Stewart, 23 Oct. 2026

Use no more than 1 teaspoon of honey, maple syrup, or raw sugar per cup of coffee. — Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 19 Oct. 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 ⅙ fluid ounce or ⅓ tablespoon or 5 milliliters