# ladle

/ˈɫeɪdəɫ/ (US) · /lˈeɪdəl/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ladle
Updated: 2026-10-20

## Definition

a big, deep spoon with a long handle that you use to serve soup, stew or sauce.

For teachers: a deep-bowled spoon with a long handle, used for serving liquids such as soup, stew or sauce.

## Examples

- She uses a ladle to serve the hot soup.
- The cook stirs the big pot and uses a ladle to pour soup into each bowl.
- During the busy dinner service, he moves between steaming pots, tasting with a small spoon and serving generous portions with a heavy ladle.

## Synonyms

dipper

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.