tablespoon

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A large spoon, used for eating food from a bowl.

   Their eggs were deposited on a few bits of straw, and great caution was necessary in attempting to procure them, as the slightest touch crumbled their frail tenement into dust. By means of a tablespoon, I was enabled to procure many of them.

2. 2
   noun

   A unit of volume, the value of which varies regionally; in the US: three teaspoons or one half fluid ounce or roughly 15 ml; in Britain and Canada: exactly 15 ml; in Russia 18 ml; in Australia: four teaspoons or 20 ml.

   1995 May 22, Salad Recipes, New York, page 51, Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a nonstick skillet until hot and quickly saute the goat-cheese buttons on both sides until brown.

3. 3
   noun

   a spoon larger than a dessert spoon

4. 4
   noun

   as much as a tablespoon will hold

5. 5
   noun

   A spoon too large for eating, usually used for cooking or serving.

Etymology

From table + spoon.