Dictionary Definition
tablespoon
Noun
1 as much as a tablespoon will hold [syn:
tablespoonful]
2 a spoon larger than a dessert spoon; used for
serving
User Contributed Dictionary
Pronunciation
Noun
- A large spoon, used for eating food from a bowl.
- A spoon too large for eating, usually used for cooking.
- A unit of measure, equal to three teaspoons or roughly 15 milliliters in US, exactly 15 milliliters in Britain and Canada, equal to four teaspoons or 20 milliliters in Australia.
Synonyms
- dessertspoon, dessert spoon (1, Australia)
Translations
a large spoon, used for eating food
- Bosnian: kašika , žlica , ližka
- Chinese: 大湯匙, 大汤匙
- Croatian: žlica , ližka , kašika
- Dutch: eetlepel , soeplepel
- Finnish: ruokalusikka
- French: cuiller à soupe
- German: Esslöffel
- Greek: κουτάλι (kutáli) , κουτάλι σούπας (kutáli súpas)
- Hebrew:
- Hungarian: evőkanál
- Italian: cucchiaio da tavola
- Japanese: さじ, スプーン
- Korean: 큰스푼
- Lithuanian: valgomasis šaukštas
- Portuguese: colher
- Russian: столовая ложка
- Serbian:
- Slovak: lyžica
- Spanish: cuchara de sopa
- Portuguese: colher de sopa
- Vietnamese: muỗng canh
Australia: a spoon for cooking
- Greek: κουτάλα
a unit of measure
- Greek: κουταλιά (kutaliá) , κουταλιά της σούπας (kutaliá tis súpas)
- Japanese: 大さじ
Extensive Definition
A tablespoon is a type of spoon used for serving.
Measure of volume
It is also a measure of volume used in cooking. It has various values around the world. It is abbreviated in English as T., tbs. or Tbsp., and in German and Dutch as EL (from Esslöffel and Eetlepel). Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the UK and the United States define:- 1 tablespoon = 15 mL,
in line with the definition used in many other
countries. In Australia, one
tablespoon = 20 mL.
When used for solids (such as granulated sugar),
it should be measured to the flattened level of the spoon (level
spoonful versus a heaping spoonful or heaped tablespoon, which is
as much as can be held in the spoon, or a rounded spoonful, which
is twice a level spoonful (the solids above the level roughly
mirroring those in the bowl)).
Relationship to teaspoon
In most jurisdictions, one tablespoon equals three teaspoons. In Australia, however, one tablespoon is four teaspoons.In Asia a tablespoon is equivalent to 2
teaspoons
Traditional definitions
The traditional U.S. interpretation of the tablespoon as a unit of volume is:This is considered problematic in the context of
nutrition labeling, where metric units are used even in the United
States. However, this consideration does not lessen the factual
relationship of a tablespoon to half of a fluid ounce, and
tablespoons can be used to measure ingredients when other measuring
devices are unavailable. For instance, 8 tablespoons is equivalent
to ½ a cup.
The traditional British tablespoon could vary
from 1/2 to 5/8 Imperial
fl. oz. (14.2 mL to 17.8 mL).
See also
Teaspoon, also
used to define quantities in recipes
References
tablespoon in German: Esslöffel
tablespoon in Spanish: Cucharada
tablespoon in French: Cuillère à soupe
tablespoon in Italian: Cucchiaio da tavola
(unità di misura)
tablespoon in Dutch: Eetlepel
tablespoon in Norwegian: Spiseskje (mål)
tablespoon in Polish: Łyżka stołowa
tablespoon in Swedish: Matsked
tablespoon in Chinese:
湯匙