WordGarden.ioteaspoonful
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /tˈiːspuːnfəl/
US
- /ˈtiˌspunfəl/
Meanings
Noun
the amount that fills a teaspoon
Beyond the definition
A "teaspoonful" is the amount that fits in a teaspoon. You might picture someone adding a teaspoonful of honey to tea, or a parent giving a child a teaspoonful of medicine. It usually means a small, measured amount, often used in cooking, baking, or for medicine.
It's more than just "a little bit." A teaspoonful is the amount held by a standard teaspoon. A recipe might call for "a generous teaspoonful" if you want a little more than usual, but the idea still comes from that small spoon. It can also be used figuratively: "He had only a teaspoonful of patience left."
The word "teaspoonful" refers to the amount of a substance—liquid or solid—that can be held in a standard teaspoon. It's a unit of measurement, often found in recipes, medical instructions, and everyday language when describing small quantities.
Imagine baking cookies: "Add one teaspoonful of vanilla extract" means filling a teaspoon with the fragrant liquid. Or consider a sick child: "Give her half a teaspoonful of cough syrup." It's precise enough to be useful but not overly scientific like milliliters or grams.
While primarily used for literal measurements, "teaspoonful" can also appear figuratively. If someone has "only a teaspoonful of patience," it means they have very little tolerance left—a tiny amount of their ability to remain calm and understanding.
The context usually makes it clear whether you're talking about an actual teaspoonful or a metaphorical one. It's a charmingly specific word, conjuring images of careful measuring and small, manageable portions. So next time you see "teaspoonful," remember that little spoon—and the precise amount it holds!
Examples
- 1
Tea sweetener
She stirred a teaspoonful of honey into her tea.
- 2
Medicine dosage
The label says to take two teaspoonfuls of the medicine before bed.
- 3
Small amount
There was only a teaspoonful of milk left in the carton.
See also
Forms and spellings
3 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- teaspoonfulnoun
Forms
- teaspoonfulspluralnoun
- teaspoonsfulpluralnoun