ladle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ladle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a large, deep spoon used for serving liquids, such as soup or sauce. Example: "She used a ladle to serve the steaming hot soup into the bowls."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

You can ladle all the meaning on to it you like – and the sight and sound of middle England collectively losing its marbles for a Somali-born, west London-raised man of the people was something to behold – but at its core this was simply an imperious sporting feat.

The Guardian - Sport

Season with the soy sauce, and salt to taste, and press the meat against the wok with your ladle to encourage it to separate out into little morsels.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

To serve, ladle the soup into warmed bowls and leave each person to spread rouille onto the croutons, float them on their soup and sprinkle with parmesan.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"We sort of come up with the slogans on the fly," says a young man working for the insurgent independent candidate Cathy McGowan, as orange-clad volunteers sort donations, agonise over campaign leaflets and ladle home-made spaghetti bolognese into bowls around him in the Wangaratta office.

The Guardian

Tip the contents of the dish into a fine sieve over a small bowl, and press down with the back of a ladle to extract the juices.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Liquidise the soup, then pass it through a sieve into a clean pan, pressing out as much liquid as possible with the back of a ladle.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

In 1791, with the help of a recusant priest from Brie, she produced the first Camembert by combining the recipe for Livarot, a local cheese, with the process of ladle-moulding used to make Brie.

The Economist

Lesser fly-on-the-wall programmes would have ladled the pathos on with a shovel but there's an unfussy, understated humanity here.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Banks are already highly leveraged, so they used to be considered less suitable for the traditional private-equity strategy of ladling on lots of debt.

The Economist

Before November's elections they portrayed "Washington"—a constellation embracing the president, the federal government and the pork-ladling, tax-raising, freedom-crushing Congress as a monster that trampled on the people's rights, smothered enterprise with pointless regulation and pauperised future generations by spending money it did not have.

The Economist

This ladled an extra $450 on average on to GM's typical incentive package.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ladle" in cooking contexts, specify the type of dish you're serving to provide more clarity. For example, "ladle of soup" or "ladle of chili".

Common error

Avoid using "ladle" to describe the serving of solid foods where a spoon or spatula would be more appropriate. A "ladle" is specifically designed for liquids or semi-liquids.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "ladle" is both as a noun, referring to a deep-bowled spoon with a long handle, and as a verb, describing the act of serving with such a spoon. Ludwig examples show it being used in both contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Encyclopedias

28%

Lifestyle

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Science

4%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "ladle" is a versatile term functioning as both a noun and a verb. As the Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and appropriate for describing a specific type of spoon or the action of serving with it. This term appears "very common" across varied sources like news media, encyclopedias, and lifestyle publications. It is most often found describing the act of serving liquids. While there are several synonyms like "dipper" or "serving spoon", "ladle" is uniquely associated with the action and the tool itself, making it a concise and descriptive choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dipper

A synonym referring to a container used for removing small quantities of liquid.

serving spoon

Focuses specifically on the tool's function as a spoon used for serving, differing in its explicit mention of the spoon aspect.

scooping implement

Highlights the scooping action, suitable for both solids and liquids.

spoon out

Highlights the action of using a spoon to serve or distribute a substance, primarily liquids.

pouring utensil

Highlights the action of pouring, broadening the tool category beyond just spoons.

serving out

Focuses on the action of distributing or dispensing food, particularly liquids.

transferring molten metal

Specifies the transfer of liquid metal, emphasizing a particular context where "ladle" is used.

transferring device

Emphasizes the action of moving material, applicable beyond just liquid or molten substances.

portioning tool

Emphasizes the act of dividing and distributing specific amounts of a substance.

dispensing device

Refers to any mechanism designed to distribute or release a substance, including liquids.

FAQs

How is "ladle" typically used in a sentence?

The word "ladle" is used both as a noun to refer to the spoon itself and as a verb to describe the act of serving something with a ladle. For example, "Use a ladle to serve the soup" or "She ladled the stew into bowls".

What are some synonyms for "ladle" when used as a noun?

When "ladle" is used as a noun, alternatives include "dipper" or "serving spoon". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Can I use "ladle" to describe serving solid foods?

While technically possible, it's more common and appropriate to use "ladle" for serving liquids or semi-liquids. For solid foods, consider terms like "spoon out" or use a serving spoon/fork.

What is the difference between a "ladle" and a regular spoon?

A "ladle" is typically larger and deeper than a regular spoon, designed specifically for serving liquids. A regular spoon is more versatile and suitable for a wider range of foods.