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DictionaryladleDeep serving spoon
noun / verb

ladle

LAY-dul/ˈleɪdl/

A deep, long-handled spoon for serving liquids, or to serve with one.

The ladle rests across the soup pot with broth in its deep bowl.

A large metal ladle resting diagonally across the rim of a simple soup pot, its long handle and deep round bowl fully visible; the bowl holds broth.
Etymology
ladOld Englishto draw up water; to load
+leOld Englishtool, appliance

Here the verb contributes its sense “to draw up water,” rather than simply “to load.” With the tool-forming suffix, it names an implement for drawing up liquids—the function of the serving spoon.

In context

Simple Cookery1:13
the wine is cooked out and fully absorbed into the rice it's time to add in our stock now the key here is to be patient and only add one ladle of stock at a time
How To Cook Risotto: A Beginner’s Guide

More examples

  • He ladles hot stew into our bowls.
  • A long-handled ladle rests beside the punch bowl.
  • We ladled gravy over the mashed potatoes.

Forms

ladle · ladles · ladled · ladling

ladleful noun — The amount of liquid a ladle holds.

Similar words

spoon
A broader utensil term, including smaller, shallower tools for eating.
scoop
Also lifts solid foods and need not use a ladle.