# teaspoon

/ˈtiˌspun/ (US) · /tˈiːspuːn/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/teaspoon
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a small spoon that you use to stir tea or coffee. It is also used as a small measurement for cooking.

For teachers: a small spoon used for stirring hot beverages or eating soft foods. Also used as a unit of measure in culinary contexts, typically equivalent to approximately 5 millilitres.

## Examples

- He uses a teaspoon to stir sugar into his coffee.
- The recipe requires exactly one teaspoon of salt to balance the sweetness of the chocolate.
- The silver teaspoon, though tarnished by decades of neglect, still bore the intricate floral engravings characteristic of late nineteenth-century tableware.

## Usage notes

- Often abbreviated as 'tsp' in recipes.

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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.