# spoon

/ˈspun/ (US) · /spˈuːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/spoon
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. eating utensil

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

- She used a silver spoon to eat her soup while it was still hot.
- The set included several serving spoons, each designed with a deep bowl to accommodate large portions of stew or rice.

### 2. fishing lure

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

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

### 3. grenade handle

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Technical

the safety handle on a hand grenade.

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

- The soldier held the spoon down firmly before throwing the grenade.
- Once the safety pin is pulled, the spring-loaded spoon flies off, allowing the striker to ignite the chemical delay element.

### 4. unit of energy

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

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

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

- I don't have enough spoons left today to go to the grocery store.
- The 'spoon theory' provides a useful framework for those with invisible disabilities to communicate their fluctuating capacity for social interaction.

Teaching tip: This is a very specific modern metaphor used within the disability community; outside of this context, it may not be understood.

### 5. to serve food

verb · CEFR B1

to move or serve food using a spoon.

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

- He carefully spooned the sauce over the vegetables.
- The chef spooned the delicate reduction onto the plate, ensuring the presentation remained clean and professional.

### 6. to lie close together

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

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

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

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

## Examples

- I need a clean spoon to eat my soup.
- She placed a silver spoon next to the bowl of sugar before serving the tea.
- The set includes several sizes of cutlery, ranging from a small teaspoon for stirring to a large ladle-like spoon for serving heavy stews.

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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.