SPATULA

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does spatula mean? 

• SPATULA (noun)
  The noun SPATULA has 2 senses:

1. a turner with a narrow flexible blade

2. a hand tool with a thin flexible blade used to mix or spread soft substances

  Familiarity information: SPATULA used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPATULA (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A turner with a narrow flexible blade

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("spatula" is a kind of...):

food turner; turner (cooking utensil having a flat flexible part and a long handle; used for turning or serving food)

Meronyms (parts of "spatula"):

blade (the flat part of a tool or weapon that (usually) has a cutting edge)

grip; handgrip; handle; hold (the appendage to an object that is designed to be held in order to use or move it)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A hand tool with a thin flexible blade used to mix or spread soft substances

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("spatula" is a kind of...):

hand tool (a tool used with workers' hands)

Meronyms (parts of "spatula"):

blade (the flat part of a tool or weapon that (usually) has a cutting edge)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spatula"):

palette knife (a spatula used by artists for mixing or applying or scraping off oil paints)

putty knife (a spatula used to mix or apply putty)

slice (a spatula for spreading paint or ink)

 Context examples 

A sample is collected using a spatula or brush and then the collected cells are transferred into a preservative liquid.

(Liquid-Based Cytology, NCI Thesaurus)

A procedure in which a small brush or spatula is used to gently remove cells from the cervix so they can be checked under a microscope for cervical cancer or cell changes that may lead to cervical cancer.

(Pap smear, NCI Dictionary)