tablespoon

American  

[tey-buhl-spoon] / ˈteɪ bəlˌspun /

noun

• tablespoons
  plural

1. a spoon larger than a teaspoon or a dessert spoon, used in serving food at the table and as a standard measuring unit in recipes.

2. a tablespoonful.

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tablespoon British  

/ ˈteɪbəlˌspuːn /

noun

1. a spoon, larger than a dessertspoon, used for serving food, etc

2. Also called: tablespoonful.  the amount contained in such a spoon

3. a unit of capacity used in cooking, medicine, etc, equal to half a fluid ounce or three teaspoons

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• tablespoons
  plural

Etymology

Origin of tablespoon

First recorded in 1755–65; table + spoon

Compare meaning

How does tablespoon compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• teaspoon vs. tablespoon

Explanation

A tablespoon is a unit of measurement in cooking, and it's also the name of the utensil you use to measure this amount. If you love spicy foods, you might pour a couple of tablespoons of Tabasco sauce on your scrambled eggs. You can also call a serving spoon a tablespoon, and this is the word's original meaning, from "spoon for table service," first used around 1760. In some places, a large spoon used for eating is more likely to be called a tablespoon, while other people use the word specifically to mean a measuring spoon that holds an amount equal to three teaspoons, or 1/2 a fluid ounce.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tablespoon tablespoons

Melt the remaining tablespoon butter and brush over the tops.

From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026

Heat the oven: Heat to 375°F. Use 1 tablespoon butter to grease a baking dish or oven-safe skillet.

From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026

Add one tablespoon of herbs to about 8 to 12 ounces of hot water.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

Toss 2 cups of small sourdough cubes with 2 tablespoons melted butter, 1 tablespoon sugar, ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom and a pinch of kosher salt.

From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026

Like standing mean mouthed over Vonetta and Fern until they swallow a tablespoon each of hard pine cough syrup.

From "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia

Sometimes I mix fats, which is wholly unnecessary but can feel strangely luxe when you’re otherwise scrapping it out with the last tablespoons of whatever is left in the fridge.

From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2026

Simple ways to get that in include eating a little over a cup of raspberries, 2 tablespoons of chia seeds, or two-thirds cup of black beans.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 25, 2026

As long as oranges are in season, take advantage of their perky perfume by stirring a few tablespoons of zest into the mix.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 8, 2026

It’s no wonder the experience can feel oddly flat or stop-start, punctuated by small panics over whether it was two teaspoons or two tablespoons of red pepper flakes.

From Salon ● Dec. 20, 2025

Put two tablespoons of oats in the water, not three!”

From "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer