noun
cutlery
KUT-luh-ree/ˈkʌtləri/
Knives, forks, spoons, and similar utensils used to prepare or eat food.
The knife, fork, and spoon make up the place setting’s cutlery.
Etymology
Built on “knife,” cutlery first named the craft of knife-making, then knives and cutting utensils collectively. In the tableware sense, the collection includes forks and spoons as well as knives.
In context
kristov had the idea of producing Forks with only the tip of the prongs in solid silver so that diners would not have the impression of eating with cheap silver-plated cutlery
More examples
- The drawer held an assortment of stainless-steel cutlery.
- She polished the cutlery before setting the table.
- The picnic basket included reusable cutlery.
Forms
cutlery
Similar words
- flatware
- Flatware usually means eating utensils; cutlery can also include knives used in preparation.
- silverware
- Silverware often means eating utensils regardless of material; cutlery does not imply silver.