ladle

Everyday

1. A big deep spoon with a long handle, used to serve soup or sauce. tree →
2. (verb) To serve or move liquid with a ladle. tree →
3. (verb, informal) To give out a lot of something (ladle out praise). tree →

In the lessons

In the kitchen and school canteen: the cook uses a ladle to serve soup. In maths problems, each ladle holds a set amount, such as 250 millilitres. Phrases: ladle out, a ladle of soup, soup ladle.

Examples

• Dad used a ladle to serve the soup. tree →
• One ladle of soup is about 250 millilitres. tree →
• She ladled hot sauce over the pasta. tree →
• The dinner lady gave each child one ladle of stew. tree →
• Be careful: the ladle is hot! tree →
• The coach ladled out praise after the win (informal). tree →
• If a pot holds 2 litres and each ladle is 200 ml, there are 10 ladles in the pot. tree →
• When the bear heard that he ran back for the kitchen ladle, to give the traitor the beating he deserved. tree →

Note

Countable noun; verb is regular (ladled, ladling). Safety: hot liquid in a ladle can burn, so move slowly. For numbers: number of ladles = total amount ÷ amount per ladle (use the same units).