tablespoon

American  

[tey-buhl-spoon] / ˈteɪ bəlˌspun /

noun

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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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

If you must, limit it to a tablespoon or two, no more.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2025

Like all MOFs, the material features a porous, crystalline array of metal ions and organic linkers, with an internal area equivalent to about six football fields per tablespoon -- a huge area for adsorbing gases.

From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2024

An extra half a tablespoon of the fancy fat a day could knock a whopping 28 percent off your risk of dementia mortality!

From Slate • May 28, 2024

In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, the remaining tablespoon of sherry vinegar, Dijon mustard, dill, and black pepper.

From Salon • May 9, 2024

Then, he traded a tablespoon of honey to sweeten the tea he had just sold for another morsel of bread and cheese, which he gave to me.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri