spoon

A2
US /spuːn/
noun verb Freq #5821

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    as much as a spoon will hold

    They added two spoons of sugar.

  2. 2
    verb

    scoop up or take up with a spoon

    spoon the sauce over the roast

  3. 3
    noun

    An implement for eating or serving; a scooped utensil whose long handle is straight, in contrast to a ladle.

    He must have a long spoon that must eat with the devil.

  4. 4
    noun

    A measure that will fit into a spoon; a spoonful.

    While Ms. Fly was with Sharon in the kitchen, Sharon asked the defendant for a “spoon of drugs.” Defendant refused and stated that he did not know where drugs could be obtained.

  5. 5
    noun

    An oar.

    To this class college rowing offers no attractions or place, nor are they generally looked upon by the artists of the "spoons" as a desirable addition […]

  6. 6
    noun

    A simpleton, a spoony.

    To get all the advantages of being with men of this sort, you must know how to draw your inferences and not be a spoon who takes things literally.

  7. 7
    noun

    A metaphoric unit of finite physical and mental energy available for daily activities, especially in the context of living with chronic illness or disability.

    We therefore have to meticulously plan out each day with the small amount of spoons we have. Each task will cost us at least one spoon.

  8. 8
    verb

    To serve using a spoon; to transfer (something) with a spoon.

    Sarah spooned some apple sauce onto her plate.

Etymology

From Middle English spoon, spoune, spone, spon (“spoon, chip of wood”), from Old English spōn (“sliver, chip of wood, shaving”), from Proto-West Germanic *spānu, from Proto-Germanic *spēnuz (“chip, flake, shaving”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)peH- (“chip, shaving, log, length of wood”). Cognate with Scots spun, spon (“spoon, shingle”), West Frisian spoen (“chip”), Dutch spaan (“chip, flinders”), German Span (“chip, flake, shaving”), Swedish spån (“chip, flake”), Norwegian Nynorsk spon (“chip, spoon”), Faroese spónur (“wood chip; spoon”), Ancient Greek σφήν (sphḗn, “wedge”)(though the connect…

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Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · as much as a spoon will hold spoonful
Word family
Derived forms butterspoonear-spoonearspoonfopoonfpoonspifespindriftspoodlespoon-bowlspoon-fedspoon-feedspoon-hook
Related forms cutleryladlesilverware

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