different between tablespoonful vs tablespoon

English

Etymology

From tablespoon +? -ful.

Noun

tablespoonful (plural tablespoonfuls or tablespoonsful)

1. The capacity of a tablespoon (table implement).
2. A tablespoon (measure of volume).

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• table spoon, table-spoon

Etymology

From table +? spoon.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?te?b?l?spu?n/, [-b??-]
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?te?b?l?spun/, [-b??-]

Noun

tablespoon (plural tablespoons)

1. (Canada, US) A large spoon, used for eating food from a bowl.

   Synonyms: dessertspoon, (Australia, New Zealand) dessert spoon, Northern UK

2. (Australia, New Zealand, Northern Britain) A spoon too large for eating, usually used for cooking or serving.
3. (cooking) A unit of volume, the value of which varies regionally; in the US: three teaspoons or roughly 15 ml; in Britain and Canada: exactly 15 ml; in Russia 18 ml; in Australia: four teaspoons or 20 ml.
   • 1995 May 22, Salad Recipes, New York, page 51,

     Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a nonstick skillet until hot and quickly saute the goat-cheese buttons on both sides until brown.

   • 2006, Tempted: 150 Very Wicked Desserts, Murdoch Books, UK, copyright page,

     If you are using a 15 ml (3 teaspoon) tablespoon, for most recipes the difference will not be noticeable.

   • 2012, James Armstrong, Kellee Hollyman, General, Organic, and Biochemistry: An Applied Approach, Cengage Learning, US, page 27,

     The problem gives us a number of tablespoons of cooking oil and asks us to convert this amount into milliliters. We are also told that one tablespoon equals 3 teaspoons, but this is a relationship between two units, not an actual measurement.

   Synonyms: tablespoonful, tbsp, tbs, (apothecaries' notation) f?ss, (apothecaries' notation) f?ß

Related terms

• tablespoonful

Translations

See also

• cutlery
• dessertspoon, dessert spoon
• silverware
• soupspoon, soup spoon
• teaspoon, tea spoon