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Webster 1913 Edition


Spatula

Spat′u-la

(?; 135)
,
Noun.
[L.
spatula
,
spathula
, dim. of
spatha
a spatula: F.
spatule
. See
Spade
for digging.]
An implement shaped like a knife, flat, thin, and somewhat flexible, used for spreading paints, fine plasters, drugs in compounding prescriptions, etc. Cf.
Palette knife
, under
Palette
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Spatula

SPAT'ULA

, SPAT'TLE,
Noun.
[L. spathula, spatha, a slice. from the root of L. pateo; so named from its breadth, or from its use in spreading things. A slice; an apothecaries' instrument, for spreading plasters, &c.

Definition 2024


spatula

spatula

See also: spatulă

English

A plastic kitchen spatula for turning and lifting
Spatula for scraping

Noun

spatula (plural spatulas or spatulae or spatulæ)

  1. A kitchen utensil consisting of a flat surface attached to a long handle, used for turning, lifting, or stirring food.
  2. (Canada, US) A kitchen utensil consisting of a flexible surface attached to a long handle, used for scraping the sides of bowls.
  3. (dated) A palette knife.
  4. (chemistry) A thin hand tool, often made of nickel, for handling chemicals or other materials, when weighing, etc.
  5. A croupier's tool for turning up cards in a casino.
    • 1963, Ian Fleming, On Her Majesty's Secret Service
      The croupier delicately faced her other two cards with the tip of his spatula. A four! She had lost!

Synonyms

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Translations


Latin

Alternative forms

  • spathula

Etymology

Diminutive from spatha (broad, flat tool) + -ula.

Pronunciation

Noun

spatula f (genitive spatulae); first declension

  1. a broad, flat piece.
    spatula porcina — "leg of pork".
  2. a little palm frond.
  3. (Late Latin) a scapula (shoulder blade).
  4. (Late Latin) a spoon or spatula (kitchenware).

Inflection

First declension.

Case Singular Plural
nominative spatula spatulae
genitive spatulae spatulārum
dative spatulae spatulīs
accusative spatulam spatulās
ablative spatulā spatulīs
vocative spatula spatulae

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References