Tbsp

/ˈteɪbəlˌspun/ noun

Definition

An abbreviation for tablespoon, a unit of measurement equal to three teaspoons or approximately 15 milliliters. Commonly used in cooking and baking recipes.

Etymology

Abbreviation of tablespoon, from Middle English table + spoon, literally meaning a spoon used at the table for eating rather than cooking. The measurement standardization occurred in the 19th century as cooking became more precise.

Kelly Says

The tablespoon as a measurement is fascinatingly inconsistent globally - while the US tablespoon is 14.8ml, the UK version is 17.7ml, and Australia uses 20ml! This tiny difference has probably ruined more international baking attempts than any other single factor.

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