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

Use a teaspoon of baking soda for each 2 cups of water and soak most produce for five to 10 minutes. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 9 June 2026

Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the mixture onto each pepper strip, roll up, and arrange on a serving platter. —Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 8 June 2026

To neutralize the skunk oil, use 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup of baking soda and 2 teaspoons of dish soap. —Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026

Stir a quarter of a teaspoon into your cup. —Mélanie Defouilloy, Vogue, 6 June 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