verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
General-American:/ˈspunˌfid/
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈspuːnfiːd/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To help somebody (usually a baby or elder) to eat using a spoon; to feed using a spoon.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To overly pamper or indulge (someone), so that they do not (or because they failed to) act or think for themselves.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
I can help you with your homework, but you must understand the concept, because I will not spoon-feed you.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To give (something) in an overly pampering way, so that the recipients do not (or because they failed to) act or think for themselves.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
What do you mean "I don't know"? I'm practically spoon-feeding you the answer!
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To explain (something, to someone) in simple words; to explain (it, to them) in words of one syllable; to spell (it) out (for them).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: ambitransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From spoon + feed.
Across languages
Translations
29 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Central Bikol:
hungit
— to help somebody to eat using a spoon
Cebuano:
hungit
— to help somebody to eat using a spoon
Chinese Mandarin:
用勺子餵 /用勺子喂
(yòng sháozi wèi)
— to help somebody to eat using a spoon
Finnish:
syöttää lusikalla
— to help somebody to eat using a spoon
Manx:
beagh lesh spein
— to help somebody to eat using a spoon
Portuguese:
dar de comer com colher
— to help somebody to eat using a spoon
Russian:
корми́ть ложкой
(kormítʹ ložkoj)
— to help somebody to eat using a spoon
Spanish:
dar de comer con cuchara
— to help somebody to eat using a spoon
Swedish:
skedmata
— to help somebody to eat using a spoon
Swedish:
mata
— to help somebody to eat using a spoon
Tagalog:
subo
— to help somebody to eat using a spoon
Chinese Mandarin:
溺愛 /溺爱
(nì'ài)
— to overly pamper or indulge someone
Chinese Mandarin:
嬌慣 /娇惯
(jiāoguàn)
— to overly pamper or indulge someone
Chinese Mandarin:
寵壞 /宠坏
(chǒnghuài)
— to overly pamper or indulge someone
Finnish:
poispilata
— to overly pamper or indulge someone
Portuguese:
dar tudo mastigado
— to overly pamper or indulge someone
Russian:
ба́ловать
(bálovatʹ)
— to overly pamper or indulge someone
Russian:
не́жить
(néžitʹ)
— to overly pamper or indulge someone
Chinese Mandarin:
灌輸 /灌输
(guànshū)
— to deliver information in as basic a manner as possible
Finnish:
vääntää rautalangasta
— to deliver information in as basic a manner as possible
Hungarian:
szájába rág
— to deliver information in as basic a manner as possible
Hungarian:
szájba rág
— to deliver information in as basic a manner as possible
Portuguese:
mastigar
— to deliver information in as basic a manner as possible
Russian:
растолко́вывать
(rastolkóvyvatʹ)
— to deliver information in as basic a manner as possible
Russian:
разжёвывать
(razžóvyvatʹ)
— to deliver information in as basic a manner as possible
Spanish:
masticar
— to deliver information in as basic a manner as possible
Swedish:
skedmata
— to deliver information in as basic a manner as possible
Swedish:
dalta
— to deliver information in as basic a manner as possible
Swedish:
klema
— to deliver information in as basic a manner as possible
