spoonful

UK: ˈspuːnfʊl | US: ˈspuːnfʊl

Definition
  1. n. the amount that a spoon can hold

  2. n. a small quantity (often used figuratively)

Structure
spoon <utensil for eating>ful <full, indicating quantity>
Etymology

The word "spoonful" combines "spoon," derived from Old English spōn (meaning "chip of wood" or later "eating utensil"), with the suffix "-ful," from Old English -full (meaning "full of" or "amount contained by"). Originally, "spoon" referred to a wooden chip or splinter, but its meaning shifted to the eating utensil by the 14th century. The suffix "-ful" has long been used to denote a measurable quantity (e.g., "handful," "cupful"). Together, "spoonful" literally means "as much as a spoon can hold," first recorded in the 15th century.

Examples
  1. She added a spoonful of sugar to her tea.

  2. The recipe calls for two spoonfuls of honey.

  3. He took a spoonful of medicine and grimaced at the taste.

  4. A spoonful of kindness can go a long way.

  5. The child eagerly ate every spoonful of the dessert.