ENGLISH
REFERENCE

spoon

n. · v.
US //ˈspun// UK //spˈuːn// spoon
  1. 1 eating utensil (n.)
    A2 Elementary Cooking

    a tool with a handle and a small, shallow bowl used for eating, stirring, or serving food.

    a utensil consisting of a small, shallow bowl with a handle, used primarily for eating liquid or semi-solid foods and for stirring.

    Example

    She used a silver spoon to eat her soup while it was still hot.

    Example

    The set included several serving spoons, each designed with a deep bowl to accommodate large portions of stew or rice.
  2. 2 fishing lure (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Sport

    a piece of metal used as bait that looks like the head of a spoon.

    a type of metallic fishing lure shaped like the bowl of a spoon, designed to flash and vibrate in the water to attract fish.

    Example

    He attached a shiny silver spoon to his line to catch some trout.

    Example

    The angler selected a heavy brass spoon to ensure the lure would sink deep enough to reach the predatory fish lurking near the lake bed.
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  1. 3 grenade handle (n.)
    C2 Proficiency American English Technical Science

    the safety handle on a hand grenade.

    the safety lever on a hand grenade which, when released, initiates the fuse mechanism.

    Example

    The soldier held the spoon down firmly before throwing the grenade.

    Example

    Once the safety pin is pulled, the spring-loaded spoon flies off, allowing the striker to ignite the chemical delay element.
  2. 4 unit of energy (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Slang

    a way to describe how much mental or physical energy you have for the day.

    a metaphorical unit of finite mental or physical energy, used particularly by people with chronic illnesses to manage daily tasks.

    Example

    I don't have enough spoons left today to go to the grocery store.

    Example

    The 'spoon theory' provides a useful framework for those with invisible disabilities to communicate their fluctuating capacity for social interaction.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a very specific modern metaphor used within the disability community; outside of this context, it may not be understood.
  3. 5 to serve food (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Cooking

    to move or serve food using a spoon.

    to transfer, serve, or move a substance using a spoon; often used with 'out' or 'into'.

    Example

    He carefully spooned the sauce over the vegetables.

    Example

    The chef spooned the delicate reduction onto the plate, ensuring the presentation remained clean and professional.
  4. 6 to lie close together (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    to lie down close together, with one person's back against the other person's front.

    to lie nestled close together, typically in bed, with both parties facing the same direction so their bodies fit together like stacked spoons.

    Example

    The couple liked to spoon while watching movies on the sofa.

    Example

    After a long day of hiking, they spent the night spooning in their shared sleeping bag to stay warm.

    Usage

    This verb can be used both transitively and intransitively.
Etymology 1

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 connection to the Greek is likely impossible by modern reconstructions of PIE). Eclipsed non-native Middle English cuculer, coclear (“spoon”), from Old English cuculer, cuceler, cucler, borrowed from Latin cochlear (“spoon”). The "metaphoric unit of personal energy" sense was coined by writer and disability advocate Christine Miserandino in 2003 (see spoon theory).

Etymology 2

Uncertain. Compare spoom.

Word family
Idioms6 entries

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