teaspoon

IPA/ˈtiːspuːn/
KK[tˈispˌun]IPA/ˈtiːspuːn/

teaspoon — noun

  • teaspoonsingular
  • teaspoonsplural

1. A small spoon designed for stirring hot drinks such as tea or coffee, and for ea

1.nounA2
Definition

A small spoon designed for stirring hot drinks such as tea or coffee, and for eating soft or semi-solid foods like yoghurt, pudding, or ice cream.

Example

Elena stirred her coffee with a small silver teaspoon and watched the sugar dissolve.

collocation: stir [drink] with a teaspoon

All the children got a bowl of ice cream and a teaspoon to eat it.

typical object: soft food eaten with a teaspoon

Common collocations
  • silver teaspoon
  • stir with a teaspoon
  • teaspoon and saucer
  • antique teaspoon
Synonyms
  • dessertspoon

    slightly larger than a teaspoon, used for eating desserts such as pudding

  • small spoon

    a generic description rather than a precise term; any spoon smaller than a tablespoon

Antonyms
  • tablespoon

    a much larger spoon used for serving food or as a larger eating spoon

Grammar Patterns

a teaspoon

the teaspoon

teaspoons

2. A standard cooking measurement that equals roughly five millilitres, used for me

2.nounB1
Definition

A standard cooking measurement that equals roughly five millilitres, used for measuring small amounts of ingredients such as spices, oil, vanilla extract, or baking powder.

Example

Add a teaspoon of salt to the boiling water before cooking the pasta.

pattern: add [amount] teaspoon of [ingredient] to [container]

Kofi measured out three teaspoons of vanilla extract for the cake batter.

measure out [amount] teaspoon(s) of [ingredient]

Common collocations
  • level teaspoon
  • heaped teaspoon
  • teaspoon of sugar
  • teaspoon of salt
  • teaspoon of spice
Synonyms
  • tsp

    standard written abbreviation used in recipes and cookbooks

Antonyms
  • tablespoon

    a larger unit of measure equal to three teaspoons or about 15 millilitres

Grammar Patterns

[number] teaspoon(s) of [ingredient]

a teaspoon of

Usage Note

In written recipes, the abbreviation 'tsp.' is standard. A tablespoon (tbsp.) equals three teaspoons. Use 'level teaspoon' for an exact measure and 'heaped teaspoon' for a generous, rounded scoop.

Common Mistakes

Add 1 tsp of butter' (when the recipe means a tablespoon).
Add 1 tbsp of butter.
'tsp' = teaspoon (5 ml), 'tbsp' = tablespoon (15 ml). Confusing them can affect a recipe's outcome.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These four spoons form a size-and-purpose series in Western table settings. A teaspoon is the smallest of the four, designed for stirring hot drinks and eating small desserts. A demitasse spoon is even smaller — about half the size of a teaspoon — and is used only with small coffee cups (demitasse means 'half cup' in French). A dessertspoon sits between a teaspoon and a tablespoon in size, used for eating desserts served in a bowl. A soup spoon has a round, deep bowl and is larger than both the teaspoon and dessertspoon, designed specifically for broth or cream soups. Choosing the right spoon depends on the dish: use a teaspoon for ice cream, a dessertspoon for pudding, and a soup spoon for broth.

teaspoon ↗demitasse spoondessertspoon ↗soup spoon

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • level teaspoon
  • heaped teaspoon
  • rounded teaspoon

Prepositions

  • teaspoon of

Etymology

ChineseDutchOld EnglishEnglish

The word 'teaspoon' combines 'tea' and 'spoon'. 'Tea' entered English in the mid-1600s from Dutch 'thee', which came from the Chinese word 'cha' (茶). 'Spoon' comes from Old English 'spōn', meaning a splinter or chip of wood, which later came to refer to the eating utensil. The compound 'teaspoon' first appeared in English around the 1680s, when tea drinking became fashionable in Europe and smaller spoons were needed for the delicate teacups of the time.