table-spoonful

A chef adds a table-spoonful of vanilla extract to the mixing bowl.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A measure of volume: "table-spoonful" refers to the amount that a tablespoon can hold, used as a unit of measurement in cooking and medicine.
   • The quantity held by a tablespoon: Specifically, the volume of a substance (usually liquid or dry ingredients) that fills a standard tablespoon.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Add one table-spoonful of sugar to the mixture. (A specific measurement of sugar.)
  • The recipe calls for three table-spoonfuls of olive oil. (Multiple units of the tablespoon measure.)
  • She swallowed a table-spoonful of cough syrup. (A measured dose of medicine.)

Advanced Usage

• "a table-spoonful of something": used to indicate a precise quantity, especially in recipes or medical instructions.
  • Mix a table-spoonful of baking soda with water. (A measured amount of baking soda.)
• "by the table-spoonful": in quantities measured by tablespoons.
  • He eats honey by the table-spoonful. (He consumes honey in large, spoon-measured amounts.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tablespoon (n): a large spoon used for serving or measuring, typically holding about 15 milliliters.
  • She used a tablespoon to scoop the flour. (The utensil itself, not the measure.)
• Teaspoonful (n): a similar measure using a smaller spoon, about 5 milliliters.
  • Add a teaspoonful of salt. (A smaller unit of measurement.)

Synonyms

• Spoonful: a general term for the amount a spoon holds, though "table-spoonful" specifies the larger spoon.
• Measure: a standard unit of quantity, often used in cooking.

Related Idioms

• "a spoonful of sugar": a phrase from the song "A Spoonful of Sugar" from , meaning something pleasant that makes a difficult task easier. (Note: This idiom uses "spoonful" generally, not "table-spoonful" specifically.)
  • A table-spoonful of patience helps the medicine go down. (A metaphorical use of the measure to imply a helpful amount.)

Usage Notes

• Standardization: In modern recipes, "table-spoonful" is often written as "tablespoon" (abbreviated as "tbsp.") and is standardized to 15 milliliters (approximately 0.5 fluid ounces) in the United States, but may vary slightly in other countries.
• Hyphenation: The word is hyphenated as "table-spoonful" or written as one word "tablespoonful" in some dictionaries; both are acceptable.