teaspoon
teaspoon Lexical Profile
teaspoon Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A standardized unit of volume used in cooking and medicine, equivalent to one-third of a tablespoon or approximately five milliliters.
"The doctor instructed her to take a teaspoon of the cough syrup every four hours."
A small spoon commonly used for stirring hot beverages or eating soft foods.
"He absentmindedly tapped his teaspoon against the rim of his porcelain cup."
Word Nuance & Usage
When used as a unit of measurement in recipes or medicine, a teaspoon implies a standard volume (typically 5 milliliters) and must not be confused with the physical cutlery, which can vary significantly in actual capacity.
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the late 1600s, formed as a straightforward compound of 'tea' and 'spoon', originally designating a small spoon designed specifically for stirring sugar and milk into tea.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.