spoon

[ spoon ]

noun

1. a utensil for use in eating, stirring, measuring, ladling, etc., consisting of a small, shallow bowl with a handle.
2. any of various implements, objects, or parts resembling or suggesting this.
3. a spoonful.
4. Also called spoon bait. Angling. a lure used in casting or trolling for fish, consisting of a bright spoon-shaped piece of metal or the like, swiveled above one or more fishhooks, and revolving as it is drawn through the water.
5. Also called num·ber three wood. Golf. a club with a wooden head whose face has a greater slope than the brassie or driver, for hitting long, high drives from the fairway.
6. a curved piece projecting from the top of a torpedo tube to guide the torpedo horizontally and prevent it from striking the side of the ship from which it was fired.
7. (in spoon theory ) a unit of energy that, once used, must be replenished before becoming available again.

verb (used with object)

1. to eat with, take up, or transfer in or as in a spoon.
2. to hollow out or shape like a spoon.
3. Games.
   1. to push or shove (a ball) with a lifting motion instead of striking it soundly, as in croquet or golf.
   2. to hit (a ball) up in the air, as in cricket.
4. Informal. to nestle in close contact with (another), as when both are lying on their sides with their knees drawn up, the back of one person tucked into the front of the other like the bowls of two spoons:

   He moved over and spooned her, pressing himself gently against her warm back as she slept.

5. Informal: Older Use. to show affection or love toward (someone) by kissing and caressing, especially in an openly sentimental manner.

verb (used without object)

1. Informal. (of two people) to nestle in close contact with one another, as when both are lying on their sides with their knees drawn up, the back of one person tucked into the front of the other like the bowls of two spoons:

   They spooned without shifting position the whole night through.

2. Informal: Older Use. to show affection or love by kissing and caressing, especially in an openly sentimental manner.
3. Games. to spoon a ball.
4. Angling. to fish with a spoon.

spoon

/ spuːn /

noun

1. a metal, wooden, or plastic utensil having a shallow concave part, usually elliptical in shape, attached to a handle, used in eating or serving food, stirring, etc
2. Also calledspoonbait an angling lure for spinning or trolling, consisting of a bright piece of metal which swivels on a trace to which are attached a hook or hooks
3. golf a former name for a No. 3 wood
4. informal.
   a foolish or useless person
5. wooden spoon
   another name for booby prize
6. rowing a type of oar blade that is curved at the edges and tip to gain a firm grip on the water Compare spade 1
7. be born with a silver spoon in one's mouth
   to inherit wealth or social standing

verb

1. tr to scoop up or transfer (food, liquid, etc) from one container to another with or as if with a spoon
2. slang.
   intr to kiss and cuddle
3. to hollow out (a cavity or spoon-shaped bowl) (in something)
4. sport to hit (a ball) with a weak lifting motion, as in golf, cricket, etc

Other Words From

• spoon·less adjective
• spoon·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spoon¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English spōn; cognate with Low German spon, German Span “chip,” Old Norse spōnn; akin to Greek sphḗn “wedge”

Word History and Origins

Origin of spoon¹

Old English spōn splinter; related to Old Norse spōnn spoon, chip, Old High German spān

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. born with a silver spoon in one's mouth, born into a wealthy family; having an inherited fortune:

   She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth and never worked a day in her life.

More idioms and phrases containing spoon

see born with a silver spoon ; greasy spoon .

Example Sentences

If the syrup forms a curtain-like sheet off the spoon edge, you are done.

From Popular-Science

Dip a spoon into the syrup and pull out one spoonful of this amazing tree sugar.

From Popular-Science

Using a wooden spoon, mash some of the potatoes against the side of the pot and stir to thicken the cooking liquid.

From Washington Post

A full spectrum of measuring spoons and cupsIf you’ve been cooking for a while, you may be able to just intuitively scoop out a teaspoon of salt or sugar.

From Popular-Science

This set of measuring spoons and cups covers just about any measurement you’re likely to find in a new recipe, and comes in fun colors.

From Popular-Science

Using a heatproof slotted spoon, remove the shallots to a paper towel-lined plate.

From The Daily Beast

No congratulations for those who were born with a silver spoon in their mouths and then blame the poor for being poor.

From The Daily Beast

“The spoon was a tool for foreshadowing,” the Facebook page explains.

From The Daily Beast

As the song from Mary Poppins explains, “A spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down.”

From The Daily Beast

McLennan was scouring church land with his metal detector in September when he came across a silver spoon.

From The Daily Beast

So after a few minutes I remarked to him, "Everything tastes very sweet out of this spoon!"

From Project Gutenberg

Had put on her Sunday gown, and had nothing to do now but hold up her head high, and sup her soup out of a silver spoon.

From Project Gutenberg

We don't even have real big prizes—just a dinky little spoon sitting up on the mantel-piece to excite us as if it was a tiara.

From Project Gutenberg

Ralph Towne, M.D., he was replying, he was born with a gold spoon in his pretty mouth!

From Project Gutenberg

Level the seed in the spoon with a knife-blade, like measuring grain in a half-bushel.

From Project Gutenberg