dessertspoon

IPA/dɪˈzɜːtspuːn/
IPA/dɪˈzɜːrtspuːn/

dessertspoon — noun

  • dessertspoonsingular
  • dessertspoonsplural

1. a spoon that is larger than a teaspoon and smaller than a tablespoon, used for e

1.nounB1
Definition

a spoon that is larger than a teaspoon and smaller than a tablespoon, used for eating puddings, fruit, and other sweet dishes served after the main meal

Example

Noa ate the mango pudding with a silver dessertspoon after dinner.

collocation: eat [dessert] with a dessertspoon

The waiter placed a clean dessertspoon beside Christopher's bowl of custard.

typical setting: dessertspoon beside a dessert bowl

Common collocations
  • silver dessertspoon
  • clean dessertspoon
  • set of dessertspoons
  • dessertspoon beside the bowl
Synonyms
  • sweet spoon

    a loose descriptive phrase rather than the standard dictionary term

  • dessert spoon

    the open compound spelling; means the same utensil

Antonyms
  • teaspoon

    smaller and usually used for stirring drinks or measuring small amounts

  • tablespoon

    larger and more often used for serving food or measuring bigger amounts

Grammar Patterns

a dessertspoon

the dessertspoon

dessertspoons

Usage Note

A dessertspoon sits between a teaspoon and a tablespoon in size. It is mainly used for table settings and sweet courses, not for serving large amounts of food.

2. the quantity that fits into a dessertspoon, used as a rough measure for ingredie

2.nounB1
Definition

the quantity that fits into a dessertspoon, used as a rough measure for ingredients, sauces, or liquid medicine

Example

Add one dessertspoon of honey to the warm milk and stir well.

pattern: [amount] dessertspoon of [ingredient]

Vivek poured two dessertspoons of syrup over the pancakes.

measure pattern: [number] dessertspoons of [food]

Common collocations
  • dessertspoon of honey
  • dessertspoon of syrup
  • dessertspoon of medicine
  • one dessertspoon
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • tablespoon

    a larger measure; one tablespoon holds more than one dessertspoon

  • teaspoon

    a smaller measure used for even smaller quantities

Grammar Patterns

a dessertspoon of [ingredient]

[number] dessertspoon(s) of [ingredient]

Usage Note

This sense appears mostly in recipes, older household instructions, and medicine directions. For exact modern measurements, writers often use millilitres instead.

Common Mistakes

Add a dessertspoon of salt' (when the recipe says a tablespoon).
Add a tablespoon of salt.
A dessertspoon holds less than a tablespoon, so changing the spoon changes the amount.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These spoon names mainly differ by size and purpose. A dessertspoon is the middle choice for sweets served after a meal. A teaspoon is smaller and is most often used for stirring tea or coffee, though people also use it for small desserts. A tablespoon is larger and is commonly used for serving food or for bigger recipe measurements. A soup spoon is shaped for broth and other liquid dishes, with a deeper bowl than a dessertspoon. When the setting is formal, choosing the right spoon shows what kind of dish will be served.

dessertspoon ↗teaspoon ↗tablespoon ↗soup spoon

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • a dessertspoon of honey
  • a set of dessertspoons
  • eat with a dessertspoon

Prepositions

Etymology

FrenchOld EnglishEnglish

Dessertspoon is a compound made from dessert and spoon. Dessert came into English through French from the idea of clearing the table after the main course, and later named the sweet dish served at the end of a meal. Spoon comes from Old English spōn, first meaning a small chip of wood before it came to mean the eating tool. The compound dessertspoon developed to name the spoon used for that course and, by extension, the amount it can hold.

First known use

1754

1754, in the meaning defined at sense 1