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"?>⅙ fluid ounce or ⅓"?>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

Mix 1 cup of vinegar, 1 teaspoon of dish soap, and 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 15 Nov. 2025

Toss broccoli with 3 tablespoons of the oil and ½ teaspoon of the salt on a large rimmed baking sheet. —Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025

Sprinkle with a mixture of 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and garlic powder and 1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 12 Nov. 2025

Add the flour, butter, egg yolk, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and the remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla, then pulse until the dough forms. —Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Nov. 2025

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