ladles
/ˈleɪdəlz/
NOUN
1. Deep-bowled utensils for serving liquids
Large spoons with deep bowls and long handles, designed for scooping, transferring, and serving liquids or semi-liquid foods.
1.1. Kitchen utensils and food serving
Refers to deep-bowled kitchen utensils used to serve soup, stew, sauces, and other liquid foods from cooking pots or serving containers.
Synonyms
- dippers
- soupspoons
- spoons
- skimmers
- dessertspoons
- tablespoons
- teaspoons
- scoops
Examples
- The chefs used their ladles to serve generous portions of soup to the guests.
- She hung the polished copper ladles on the kitchen wall.
- The workers cleaned the ladles before preparing the next batch of soup.
Related Words
- serving spoons
- kitchen utensils
- cooking tools
- sauce spoons
- cooking pots
- serving bowls
NOUN
2. Containers for transporting molten metal
Specialized heat-resistant vessels used in foundries to collect, transport, and pour molten metal during manufacturing and casting operations.
2.1. Foundry and metal casting
Describes industrial vessels used to transfer molten iron, steel, or other metals from furnaces to casting molds or processing equipment.
Synonyms
- crucibles
- pouring vessels
- molten-metal containers
Examples
- The foundry workers inspected the ladles before transporting molten steel to the casting area.
Related Words
- foundries
- furnaces
- molten metal
- metal casting
- smelting
- molds
NOUN
3. Floats attached to mill wheels
Boards or projecting floats attached to a waterwheel that catch flowing water and help rotate the wheel.
3.1. Waterwheels and traditional milling
Refers to the paddles or boards of a traditional mill wheel that receive the force of flowing water to produce rotational movement.
Synonyms
- floats
- paddles
- blades
Examples
- The wooden ladles turned steadily as the flowing stream powered the old mill wheel.
Related Words
- waterwheels
- watermills
- mill wheels
- hydropower
- water flow
NOUN
4. Devices for carrying artillery ammunition
Historical instruments or ring-shaped holders fitted with handles, used to draw, hold, or transport cannon charges and shot.
4.1. Historical artillery and ammunition handling
Describes specialized historical equipment used by artillery crews to handle and transport cannon ammunition during military operations.
Synonyms
- shot carriers
- ammunition carriers
Examples
- The museum displayed several antique ladles used by artillery crews to handle cannon ammunition.
Related Words
- cannons
- artillery
- cannonballs
- ordnance
- gunpowder
- ammunition
VERB
5. Serving or transferring substances with a ladle
To pour, scoop, or serve liquid or semi-liquid substances from one container into another using a ladle.
5.1. Serving food and liquids
Used when distributing soup, stew, sauce, or other liquid foods into bowls, plates, or individual servings with a ladle.
Synonyms
- dishes
- scoops
- dips
- buckets
- spoons
- slops
Antonyms
- fills
- pours
Examples
- The chef ladles steaming soup into bowls for the waiting customers.
- She ladles the stew into individual dishes before serving dinner.
- The volunteers ladles of soup were distributed to everyone at the shelter.
Related Words
- serves
- portions
- distributes
- dispenses
- transfers
- decanters
5.2. Removing or extracting liquid
Used when drawing, scooping, draining, or removing liquid from a container or enclosed space using a ladle or similar implement.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- fills
- pours
Examples
- The workers ladle water out of the flooded boat.
- She ladles the remaining liquid from the container into another vessel.
- The crew ladles excess water from the damaged compartment.
Related Words
- depletes
- exhausts
- eliminates
- extracts
- removes
- transfers