Spoon vs. Spatula — What's the Difference?

A spoon is a utensil consisting of a small shallow bowl (also known as a head), oval or round, at the end of a handle. A type of cutlery (sometimes called flatware in the United States), especially as part of a place setting, it is used primarily for transferring food to the mouth.

A spatula is a broad, flat, flexible blade used to mix, spread and lift material including foods, drugs, plaster and paints. In medical applications, "spatula" may also be used synonymously with tongue depressor.The word spatula derives from the Latin word for a flat piece of wood or splint, a diminutive form of the Latin spatha, meaning 'broadsword', and hence can also refer to a tongue depressor.

A utensil consisting of a small, shallow bowl on a handle, used in preparing, serving, or eating food.

A small implement having a straight handle and a broad, flexible blade that is used to mix or spread semiliquid substances

A shiny, curved, metallic fishing lure.

A small implement having an angled handle and a broad, flat blade that is used in cooking or serving food

A paddle or an oar with a curved blade.

Chiefly British A tongue depressor.

(Sports) A three wood golf club.

A kitchen utensil consisting of a flat surface attached to a long handle, used for turning, lifting, or stirring food.

To lift, scoop up, or carry with or as if with a spoon.

(North America) A kitchen utensil consisting of a flexible surface attached to a long handle, used for scraping the sides of bowls.

Sports & Games To shove or scoop (a ball) into the air.

(dated) A palette knife.

(Informal) To lie down behind and against (another person) so that both bodies face the same direction with the knees drawn up slightly like nested spoons.

(chemistry) A thin hand tool, often made of nickel, for handling chemicals or other materials, when weighing, etc.

To fish with a spoon lure.

A croupier's tool for turning up cards in a casino.

Sports & Games To give a ball an upward scoop.

(entomology) A sclerotized, T-shaped plate in the prothorax of larvae of flies belonging to family Cecidomyiidae, the gall midges.

(Informal) To lie down with another person so that both bodies face the same direction with the knees drawn up slightly like spoons nested in each other.

(transitive) To lift with or as if with a spatula.

(Informal) To engage in amorous behavior, such as kissing or caressing.

(transitive) To strike with a spatula.

An implement for eating or serving; a scooped utensil whose long handle is straight, in contrast to a ladle.

An implement shaped like a knife, flat, thin, and somewhat flexible, used for spreading paints, fine plasters, drugs in compounding prescriptions, etc. Cf. Palette knife, under Palette.

An implement for stirring food while being prepared; a wooden spoon.

A turner with a narrow flexible blade

A measure that will fit into a spoon; a spoonful.

A hand tool with a thin flexible blade used to mix or spread soft substances

A wooden-headed golf club with moderate loft, similar to the modern three wood.

(slang) An oar.

(fishing) A type of metal lure resembling the concave head of a tablespoon.

A spoon excavator.

A simpleton, a spooney.

A safety handle on a hand grenade, a trigger.

(slang) A metaphoric unit of finite physical and mental energy available for daily activities, especially in the context of living with chronic illness or disability.

To serve using a spoon; to transfer (something) with a spoon.

To flirt; to make advances; to court, to interact romantically or amorously.

To lie nestled front-to-back, following the contours of the bodies, in a manner reminiscent of stacked spoons.

To hit (the ball) weakly, pushing it with a lifting motion, instead of striking with an audible knock.

(intransitive) To fish with a concave spoon bait.

(transitive) To catch by fishing with a concave spoon bait.

Alternative form of spoom

See Spoom.

To take up in, or as in, a spoon.

To catch by fishing with a spoon bait.

In croquet, golf, etc., to push or shove (a ball) with a lifting motion, instead of striking with an audible knock.

To act with demonstrative or foolish fondness, as one in love.

To fish with a spoon bait.

In croquet, golf, etc., to spoon a ball.

An implement consisting of a small bowl (usually a shallow oval) with a handle, used especially in preparing or eating food.

Anything which resembles a spoon in shape; esp. (Fishing), a spoon bait.

Fig.: A simpleton; a spooney.

A wooden club with a lofted face.

A piece of cutlery with a shallow bowl-shaped container and a handle; used to stir or serve or take up food

As much as a spoon will hold;

Formerly a golfing wood with an elevated face

Scoop up or take up with a spoon;

Snuggle and lie in a position where one person faces the back of the others