Word
spoonful
Phoneticsspoon·ful, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈspunˌfʊɫ/
UK/spˈuːnfəl/
Definition
n. the amount of liquid or soft food that fits into a spoon. You use this word when you are measuring or serving small amounts of something.
n. the quantity of a liquid or soft substance that fills a spoon. Often used in the phrase 'a spoonful of sugar' to describe a small addition to a larger quantity.
Examples
“I added a spoonful of honey to my tea.”
“The recipe calls for a spoonful of salt to bring out the flavor of the vegetables.”
“While the recipe suggests a single spoonful of vinegar, the chef found that a slightly larger amount was necessary to balance the sweetness of the glaze.”
Examples
simple
“I added a spoonful of honey to my tea.”
contextual
“The recipe calls for a spoonful of salt to bring out the flavor of the vegetables.”
complex
“While the recipe suggests a single spoonful of vinegar, the chef found that a slightly larger amount was necessary to balance the sweetness of the glaze.”
Etymology
From Middle English sponeful, sponefull, sponful, spone-ful, equivalent to spoon + -ful.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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