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eating utensil

eating utensil

1 1.0
A tool like a fork, knife or spoon that you use to cut and eat food
  • noun
  • /ˈiːtɪŋ juːˈtɛnsl/
translation icon : utensilio de comer
  • The Brookfield Zoo began a two-month pilot project in late April to determine the operational impacts of using, collecting, and composting biodegradable eating utensils.
  • eating utensils and cups
  • food and eating utensils

Examples

  • Laptop, toiletries, hand towel, body towel, bedding, one set of eating utensils, one wok, and one pan.

    Blog text (18)
  • In support of its case, the state presented the testimony of a waitress who had once served Hall and who observed that he had ordered his own meal and appeared to eat it using proper eating utensils.

    Academic text (2016)
  • Now, give me my eating utensil back.

  • Other examples are simply doorknobs, eating utensils, and so on.

  • Touching a tissue or sharing a cup or eating utensils used by someone with mumps can also spread the virus.

    Blog text (24)
  • He was leaning over his plate, an eating utensil in each beefy hand.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • However, other plastic items can also taint the product, including bottle caps, straws, eating utensils, beverage containers, and plant pots.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Food as domination and manipulation runs the gamut from type of fare to nutritional content, preparation, service, and the form of eating utensils with which it is consumed.

    Academic text (2017)
  • We needed mosquito repellent and bedding, cooking and eating utensils, and ways to deal with the baby diapers, since there were no plastic diapers at that time.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • I need a fork and a knife as my eating utensil to cut the steak.

Synonyms

fork
vseating utensil
178 1.0

A small tool with pointed prongs used to eat or pick up food

is the general term that includes this kind of eating tool
spoon
vseating utensil
146 1.0

A small bowl-shaped tool with a handle used to eat or serve food

is the broader label that covers this and other eating tools
silverware
vseating utensil
48 1.1

Things like knives, forks, and spoons used for eating and serving food

is the neutral general term not limited by material or finish
utensil
vseating utensil
41 1.3

A tool used for cooking or eating

is narrower covering only objects used to cut and eat food
cutlery
vseating utensil
12 1.8

Knives, forks, and spoons used for eating or serving food

is the general label for objects used to cut and eat food
flatware
vseating utensil
  • US
7 2.6

Knives, forks, and spoons you use for eating

is the broader term for these eating tools including cutting items

How Specialized

knife
  • NSFW
1.0
fork
178 1.0
spoon
146 1.0
eating utensil
1 1.0
utensil
41 1.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

eating + utensil

The noun phrase 'eating utensil' is directly compositional: a utensil (tool) for eating (the process of taking food), so its meaning 'tool used for cutting and eating food' is predictable from the constituents. This formation is cross-linguistically common (equivalents in many languages) and uses a straightforward noun + noun/modifier pattern, making it immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner who knows both words.

Etymology

Eating utensil is a simple name: utensil means a small 'tool' and eating shows what it is for. Picture a spoon, fork or chopsticks in your hand helping you eat, and that's why the phrase means 'an object used for cutting and eating food'.