# tbsp

CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tbsp
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

Stands for tablespoon. A large spoon used for measuring ingredients in cooking, equal to three teaspoons.

For teachers: Abbreviation for tablespoon. A unit of volume used in cookery, typically equivalent to 15 millilitres or three teaspoons.

## Examples

- Add one tbsp of olive oil to the pan.
- The recipe calls for two tbsp of honey to balance the acidity of the lemon juice.
- While professional chefs often weigh ingredients for precision, most domestic recipes still rely on the tbsp as a standard volumetric measure for liquid components.

## Pitfalls

- Not "Add two tbsp.s of sugar" but "Add two tbsps of sugar" — When pluralizing the abbreviation, the 's' follows the letters directly without an internal period.

## Usage notes

- Commonly written in lowercase in recipes; the plural can be written as 'tbsps' or remain 'tbsp'.

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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.