spoonful: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “spoonful” mean?
The amount that a spoon can hold, used as a unit of measurement, especially in cooking or when serving food/medicine.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The amount that a spoon can hold, used as a unit of measurement, especially in cooking or when serving food/medicine.
A small, contained quantity of something, often implying a measured or limited amount.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Both use 'spoonful' in culinary and medicinal contexts. The term 'spoon' as a verb (meaning to lie nestled together) is more common in UK English.
Connotations
Neutral in both. Slight association with home cooking, baking, and traditional remedies.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties. May appear slightly more often in UK recipes which use imperial measurements.
Grammar
How to Use “spoonful” in a Sentence
a spoonful of [uncountable noun]take a spoonfuladd a spoonful to [something]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spoonful” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They spoonfuled the jam into the jars.
- He carefully spoonfuled the mixture onto the baking sheet.
American English
- She spoonfuled the batter into the muffin tin.
- The chef spoonfuled the sauce over the dish.
adverb
British English
- He added the honey spoonfully to avoid a mess.
- Measure the salt spoonfully, as directed.
American English
- She drizzled the syrup spoonfully over the pancakes.
- Add the chemical spoonfully to the solution.
adjective
British English
- The recipe called for a spoonful measure of bicarbonate of soda.
- He took his spoonful dose of cough syrup.
American English
- She used a spoonful amount of vanilla extract.
- The instructions indicate a spoonful serving of powder.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially used metaphorically in marketing ('add a spoonful of creativity').
Academic
Rare, except in historical or sociological contexts describing old remedies or nutrition.
Everyday
Common in cooking, baking, and informal talk about food or medicine.
Technical
Used in pharmacology (e.g., '5 ml spoonful') and culinary arts for precise measurement.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spoonful”
- Using 'spoon' instead of 'spoonful' for the measurement ('Add two spoons of sugar' is informal/non-standard). Using 'spoonsful' in everyday contexts sounds archaic.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The standard modern plural is 'spoonfuls'. 'Spoonsful' is an older, less common variant.
Yes, it can refer to the amount of a liquid or a solid that fills a spoon (e.g., a spoonful of soup, a spoonful of sugar).
A teaspoonful is the amount a teaspoon holds (about 5 ml). A tablespoonful is the amount a tablespoon holds (about 15 ml). 'Spoonful' alone is ambiguous and depends on context.
Yes, though it's not extremely common. It can metaphorically indicate a small, comforting, or mitigating amount of something abstract (e.g., 'a spoonful of patience').
The amount that a spoon can hold, used as a unit of measurement, especially in cooking or when serving food/medicine.
Spoonful is usually neutral in register.
Spoonful: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspuːnfʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspunˌfʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'spoon' + 'full' -> a spoon that is full. Visualise a heaped spoon of sugar.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEASUREMENT IS CONTAINMENT; A SMALL AMOUNT IS A SPOONFUL (e.g., 'a spoonful of advice').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'spoonful' correctly?