teaspoon

noun

tea·​spoon ˈtē-ˌspün 

-ˈspün

1

: a small spoon that is used especially for eating soft foods and stirring beverages and that holds about one third of a tablespoon

2

: a unit of measure especially in cookery equal to ¹/₆ fluid ounce or ¹/₃ tablespoon (5 milliliters)

Examples of teaspoon in a Sentence

She stirred her coffee with a teaspoon.

He measured the salt with a teaspoon.

She put a teaspoon of sugar in her coffee.

Recent Examples on the Web

Thomason recommends limiting your nutmeg consumption to less than 2 teaspoons. —Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024

Place chickpeas and edamame on the other baking sheet, drizzle with remaining 1½ teaspoons of olive oil, and toss until evenly coated. —Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 26 Oct. 2024

Grease an 8-inch square cake pan with the 1 teaspoon butter and set aside. —Anne Byrn, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2024

To make a healthful cup of instant coffee, consider these steps: Measure the coffee granules: Most instant coffee brands recommend using 1 to 2 teaspoons of coffee granules per cup of hot water. —Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Rdn, Ld, Health, 15 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing teaspoon

• level teaspoon/tablespoon

Kids Definition

teaspoon

noun

tea·​spoon ˈtē-ˌspün 

-ˈspün

1

: a small spoon used especially for eating soft foods and stirring beverages

2

: a unit of measure used especially in cooking equal to ⅙ fluid ounce or ⅓ tablespoon (about 5 milliliters)

Medical Definition

teaspoon

noun

tea·​spoon ˈtē-ˌspün, -ˈspün 

: a unit of measure equal to ¹/₆ fluid ounce or ¹/₃ tablespoon or 5 milliliters