What does ladleful mean?
A ladleful is the amount of liquid or other material that can be held in a ladle, a long-handled serving utensil commonly used for soup, stew, and other pourable foods. The word is especially natural in expressions such as “a ladleful of soup” and “a ladleful of water.” It can also be used figuratively to describe a large or generous amount of something: “She gave him a ladleful of advice” suggests abundant counsel, while “a ladleful of money” can imply a substantial or perhaps excessive supply. Although the literal sense is straightforward and common, the figurative sense gives ladleful a colorful, slightly informal quality. It is useful in both everyday descriptions of food and more expressive writing about plentiful resources, generous help, or excess.
nounThe amount of liquid or other material that can be held in a ladle. By extension, it can mean a large or generous amount of something.
- An amount of liquid or other material held in a ladle.
- A large or generous amount of something.
"She served a generous ladleful of soup at the table."
"The cook added a ladleful of stock to the sauce."
"The article offers readers a ladleful of practical advice."
The plural is used for separate quantities or amounts, especially when several ladlefuls are being counted.
"She added two ladlefuls of flour to the mixture."
A ladleful began as a kitchen measure, but in figurative use it can mean an abundant helping of almost anything.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of ladleful
Ladleful is an English compound formed from “ladle” and the suffix “-ful,” meaning “the amount that fills” something. The compound is recorded in the early 19th century. “Ladle” comes from Old English lǣdel, a word for a bowl or scoop, while “-ful” is an English development of “full” that commonly forms nouns denoting a filled quantity or amount.
Related word forms
How ladleful is actually used
Ladleful is countable and is usually used with the article, as in “a ladleful.” Its figurative sense is informal or literary and often implies an especially generous, abundant, or sometimes excessive amount.
Easily confused with ladleful
A ladle is the utensil used for serving liquids, whereas a ladleful is the amount it can hold.